Pray for Shaun Groves...

I just read on Shaun Groves' blog that he may be facing something really serious.

He is the wonderful young man who so eloquently (through words and music) presented Compassion Ministries to our church a few months ago.

If you haven't read his post(s) about it yet, I hope you will go over there and read what he is going through...And then pray that the Lord's will be done in his life and that he might continue to be used for God's glory.

Sacred Harp Singing...AKA ..."ask for the old paths, where is the good way..." {Jeremiah 6:16}

Since this is the fifth Saturday in a row that Jim has worked, I have time to create a post I have been thinking about for awhile. When doing the post for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", I was reminded of another movie that I absolutely adore. "Cold Mountain" is an awesome movie starring Nicole Kidman as Ada Monroe, Jude Law as W.P.Inman and Renee Zellweger as Ruby Thewes. Ms. Zellweger won an Academy Award for her performance and stole every scene she was in, IMHO...the movie was also nominated for:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Jude Law)
Best Achievement in Cinematography (John Seale)
Best Achievement in Editing (Walter Murch)
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score (Gabriel Yared)
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song (for T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello for the song "The Scarlet Tide")
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song (for Sting for the song "You Will Be My Ain True Love") {that song is # 196 on my playlist, if you want to check it out...there are LOTS of songs on my playlist. LOL}



The book, writen by Charles Frazier, was good as well. It was also fashioned after Homer's "The Odyssey", as was "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". Civil War buffs will enjoy the authenticity...the beginning battle scene is based on the "Petersburg Crater" battle of the Civil War...(and like I told my daughter, "War IS hell...")



Lovers of classic love stories and AWESOME early American folk music will also surely appreciate this movie! Jack White (from "the White Stripes") is really good in it (a REAL stretch, believe me!!!)



Natalie Portman, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, Donald Sutherland...everybody in it contributed to make this movie so good. (The only thing I wanted for my birthday 2 years ago was that my daughters all watch it with me!)

{BE SURE TO PAUSE MY PLAYLIST ON THE RIGHT, TOWARD THE BOTTOM, FIRST!} Here is the trailer:

(All this reminds me of yet another movie that I will probably post about in the future. Next Saturday???? LOL)

Cold Mountain North Carolina is a real place and is located 35 miles from Asheville North Carolina...









But I digress. This post isn't about the beauty of the mountains or even the movie. It is about a type of singing that I saw in the movie. At the time I had no idea what it was, but since then, I have learned that the movie showed a type of singing called "Sacred Harp". Here is the clip from the movie which sparked my interest:

One night, a few months ago, I heard this "strange singing" emanating from the documentary Jim was watching. It was a documentary on "Sacred Harp Singing". Here is a clip from that program:

I just found it all very interesting. I had no idea this was still popular in the United States. Here is a link I found which has "Sacred Harp FAQs"

Here is the link to "Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp"

Has anyone else ever heard of this? (Or loved "Cold Mountain"?)


{ETA DISCLAIMER} This post was originally intended to be about "Sacred Harp Singing" and not about Cold Mountain, the film. However, since I did get caught up in my love for the movie, I guess I should have mentioned that it IS a Rated R flick. For people who would never watch this type of rated film, I just wanted to mention that fact. Thanks, Milah. I had completely forgotten it was rated R for a reason.

How our government REALLY works...AKA a good laugh is needed on a day Obama backpeddles

(This first part of my post is borrowed, with permission, from my new friend Eddie over at "Eddie's Place".) THANKS for sharing!

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C. One is from Kentucky , one from Tennessee , and a third from Jersey . They all go in to examine the fence with a White House official.

The Tennessee contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. 'Well', he says, 'I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'

The Kentucky contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, 'I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'

The Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers,'$2,700.'

The official, incredulous, whispers back, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'

The Jersey contractor whispers back, '$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire that guy from Kentucky to fix the fence.'

'Done!' replies the government official.

And that, my friends, is how it all works!!!

Ain't it the truth, ain't it the truth...Didn't Bugs Bunny always say that?



And speaking of "wascly wabbits", to learn how Obama backpeddled today up in Canada, start with this link: (Don't forget to pause my playlist over on the right first!)


here is a rebuttal, of sorts:

Not true? YEAH, RIGHT!!!!. You decide...

this is what happened today:

excerpt from link:
"President Barack Obama, in his first foreign trip, sought to reassure Canada that he had no intention of turning some of his campaign rhetoric on trade into actual barriers between the U.S. and its largest trading partner."

Ok, Mr. President...which is it going to be. Sounds to me like you told the poor souls in Ohio EXACTLY what they wanted (and needed) to hear, with absolutely no intention of carrying out anything but your globalist agenda. And don't give me the old "Now is a time where we've got to be very careful about any signals of protectionism, because as the economy of the world contracts, I think there's going to be a strong impulse, on the part of constituencies in all countries, to see if they can engage in beggar-thy-neighbor policies," Mr. Obama said.", crap because I ain't buying it. This global recession was manufactured for the benefit of people like you (Presidents Bushes and Clinton included) and those you serve...I know those are strong words, but true, nonetheless. Speaking them until freedom of speech is just a memory... I also know that God is in complete control and Mr. Obama may not even be aware of what he is helping to create...(No, I don't think he is the Anti-Christ, as some do. He can't be because he isn't from the rebuilt "Holy Roman Empire", unless Kenya could be counted in that someway. LOL)

But I digress...What happened to the "Buy American" part of the so called "Stimulus Package"? Just who is getting stimulated...looks like it won't be Americans after all...But you can bet your bippy the good old "North American Union" will prosper at the expense of more American jobs. (THAT is a soapbox I have been on for over three years now...here are a couple links to start with. Here and here)

OK, it is much, much too late in the evening for me to be getting all worked up! LOL
I have to take comfort in these words:

Revelation 11:15 (King James Version)

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Happy Valentine's Day, Revisited...AKA this one is for Jim...

{{{PAUSE PLAYLIST ON RIGHT FIRST}}}

Since this is the 4th Saturday in a row that Jim has had to work, and since last Saturday was spent all nostalgic and teary-eyed over Lauren's birthday, today, Valentine's Day 2009, is Jim's turn...

I was trying to find some "love songs" for my playlist, and I stumbled across this. Many people have recorded this song, but Art Garfunkel's version is my favorite. I had this album years ago (before my record burning binge...long story), so I was delighted to find it again. This song speaks volumes. I should have saved it for our anniversary in September, but I knew I would never remember to do it.

I couldn't find Art singing this on You Tube other than this one (with no images) so I will post the lyrics and you can just follow along.

I LOVE YOU, JIM! Happy Valentine's Day!




Shattered dreams, worthless years,
Here am I encased inside a hollow shell,
Life began, then was done,
Now I stare into a cold and empty well

The many sounds that meet our ears
the sights our eyes behold,
Will open up our merging hearts,
And feed our empty souls

I believe when I fall in love with
you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this
time it will be forever

Without despair we will share,
And the joys of caring will not be replaced,
What has been must never end
And with the strength we have won't be erased
When the truths of love are planted firm,
They won't be hard to find,
And the words of love I speak to you
will echo in my mind

I believe when I fall in love with
you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this
time it will be forever

I believe when I fall in love with
you it will be forever,
I believe when I fall in love this time it will be forever...





I thank God every day that He brought us together...

LOVE
1 Cor 13:4-8

Love is patient,

love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud.

It is not rude,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

always trusts,

always hopes,

always perseveres.

Love never fails.

NIV

Please forgive me when I fail you and don't always practice these precepts...

Happy Valentine's Day...

to all my "blogging buddies"!

Here is a collection of Victorian Valentines...Why were they all naked baby cherubs back in the day????

I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day. Here's hoping your "honey" showers you with lots and lots of love...and vice versa.

ENJOY!!!

These say it all...updated

{As an update, did you hear that 2 brothers from Batesville, IN won a million dollars last night from Doritos by having the best commercial at the Superbowl? It was the one where they were throwing snow globes... Read about it HERE:}





and my personal favorite...



At least it was a GOOD game. And the Boss still has A LOT of rock and roll left!



To all my Steeler buddies...CONGRATULATIONS

*{said through clenched teeth!}*

At least it stayed in the AFC North, right?

CAN'T WAIT till next year...

Soggy Bottom Boys- I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow

(PAUSE PLAYLIST ON RIGHT FIRST...however, it just became the first song on my playlist)

I had forgotten HOW MUCH I loved this movie and the soundtrack...there are a couple more songs from the movie on my playlist...until I saw it on TV today. When I saw George Clooney lipsinking this wonderful song by Dan Tyminski, I jumped up to post it.

If any of you haven't seen "O Brother, Where Art Thou", I highly recommend it! The Cohen Brothers sure have a quirky sense of humor, which is right up my alley.

Also, this movie is based on "The Odyssey" by Homer, hence the sirens...