TONIGHT WITH WORDS UNSPOKEN...

There were so many good little puppy love songs when I was at that age. Eighth grade.

Venus in Blue Jeans was another. Town Without Pity. Duke of Earl. Save the Last Dance for Me. I'm Sorry. The Big Hurt.

And lots and lots of others. Lollipop, Lollipop. Sitting in the backseat/kissing and a-huggin' with Fred. Ok, I'll stop now.

But as a 13 year old, one song offended. Sweeter Than the Day Before. Its lyrics were stolen; the melody, at least part was, too. "Everyday with Jesus/is sweeter than the day before. Everyday with Jesus/ I love Him more and more."

Not "Everyday with you girl/is sweeter than the day before/everyday with you girl I love you more and more and more..." And it varies somewhat for the rest of the song. But I knew something wasn't right about that. Yet only one fellow Sunday School class member ever talked to me about that and agreed.

How could people not see? Had they never heard that great song? Where was the outrage?

Maybe that's where it all started?. Where Christians didn't speak up, speak out. Make demands. Ruffle feathers. But who am I kidding? It's been that way all along.

But the greatest thing is we don't have to worry. For He'll still love us tomorrow.

BECAUSE I'VE HELD ONE IN MY HAND

I can tell you the shape of the human heart.

So how did I get to do that? Hold a human heart that is? We'll it was the heart of an anatomy class cadaver. Opened and displayed. And while I was there, with three others, I picked it up thinking when will I ever be able to do that again? I was right, of course, but the memory from 40 years or so ago is still fresh.

It was just about the size of a closed fist as they say. All the connectors, ventricles, aorta, etc were cut away. Much of this guy, in fact, was splayed open for all to see. They did have the courtesy to cover his face, but I wanted to see him, so I uncovered the cadaver's head.

But back to the heart. What I liked about it was that despite all the med school experimentation of the guy, there was no hole in his heart. There was no emptiness. Thus, I conclude, he had filled that hole or rather had that hole filled with the love for Jesus. That's right he was saved by the loving grace of our Lord. No heart is complete without the greatest love the world has ever known.

I'm so glad my cadaver had a full heart. A complete heart. Even though he was dead, he was and is something. He exhibited 1 Cor 13:2 "If I have no love, I am nothing."

Or at least I like to think.

EVEN SINATRA HAD REGRETS (WELL A FEW) WHEN IT DID IT MY WAY

We've all had them. Shortcomings. Misgivings. Do-overs that we would love to have. Some are life changers.

What about Jesus' older brother James? Do you think he ever had any? I mean, this is one cat who lived with a perfect brother for years. Who saw his olde brother never sin. Who saw His public ministry. Who heard about the miracles He performed. Who knew of His following. Yet he didn't believe.

Not until Jesus appeared to him after His death After he had appeared to His disciples and the 500 (1Cor 15:7). Then, and unfortunately for James, only then did he believe.

But it was in time for him to serve. To advance the church. To write a book of the Holy Bible. To grow in the Word and in the Spirit.

But it keeps haunting me. It keeps me saddened for James. He was there. Yet he didn't believe. Until it was too late to have a loving relationship with the Son of Man while He lived on this earth.

But I'm also strengthened by the fact that James has all of eternity to spend with His brother. Better late than never was never better illustrated.

NOW, HOW'D HE KNOW THAT?

Whether one has flown or not, that's where our focus must be. Skywards. Heavenward. For this earth is not our home.

It's so easy to lose focus. I mean we live here. We know now. Even with the faith we have, it's easy to delay, to concentrate on what is the near future. Someone once said, "Faith is like frosting on the windowpane". I'm still trying to understand that.

I like potato chips. Always have. One of my long time friends says she never saw me pass up a potato chip. That's instant gratification. If I could only think, "It will make me look so much better if I'm thinner, if I don't starting eating chips, because when Lays started the jingle, 'bet you can't eat just one', they had me in mind".

So while I can not keep my focus to the future, and I'm talking about my daily trip to the scales, then I can certainly empathize with those who lose focus.

I wish I was more of a hiker. You know, great exercise and all. But for me the exhilaration of the climb is worth it all when one gets to the top to see the sights beyond. Oh, who am I kidding? I'd probably just pack a lunch, including some snack pack 150 calorie bag of potato chips and never get to the summit.

But that's where our focus must be--skyward as Leonardo said. I like this code better than his other one. (I know: it wasn't his idea.)

So I think I'll ponder that thought today. Either that or the frosting on the window pane thing. I'll be back in a minute. I feel a hunger pang coming on. A diet coke and some chips would taste good about now.

SI ALLA VITA IS RIGHT IN ANY LANGUAGE

It means "Say yes to life" and was displayed Sunday at the Vatican commemorating Sanctity of Life Sunday in South Africa. It's not High Time; it's Way Past Time we as a nation get fully behind the Right to Life. It's time we quit calling it Pro-Choice and call it what it is-- Infanticide.

Anyone who has ever seen a sonogram know when life begins. So where's the mystery? And if life begins with the fetus, then how is it not murder to kill that living being?

Since 1973 Americans have been killing babies. God is a patient, forgiving Father, but He also is a loving Father who wants us, who demands us to be obedient if we are His followers. If we're not, then we need to quit asking Him to bless our country.

I can see some humanist pen the words, "We'll bless America/Land that we love/Yes we'll guide us/We'll decide for us/We'll determine what we love".

America can't have it both ways. Yet we try. In his first week in office, our new President signed legislation giving abortion rights money to international countries. There's currently a bill before Congress that gives even more rights to those favoring abortion.

South Africa and the U.S. need more than one Sunday to stand up against abortion. In fact, we should make it everyday. Si alla vita!