"Yes, Yes, Yes!! See 'Overcomer' DESPITE the Title" (NO Spoilers!!)

THIS BLOG ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN AUGUST, 2019.

I saw "OVERCOMER" last night and it was absolutely terrific...DESPITE the (in my opinion) poorly chosen TITLE of the movie.  The poorly chosen title might explain why there doesn't seem (to me) to be as much INTEREST in this Kendrick Brothers films as there was in the LAST few, at least not initially.  VERY FEW were in the theater with me, frankly!!  Let me explain what I mean by "poorly chosen title."

Look, the Target Audience for this movie is CLEARLY Christians, and 95% of us have heard the wonderful SONG "Overcomer" by Mandisa...since 2013 we've heard it over and over and over, in fact. For the Kendrick brothers to choose a song which predates their LAST great movie, "War Room," gives the impression to their fans that they are going backwards, not forwards in their art...a "Been there, Done that" feel, like they're out of original ideas.  Bad enough that THIS movie has two of the same actors that "War Room" had, but to TITLE this movie after a six year old song, which already appeared in ANOTHER Christian movie?? Big mistake, in my opinion. 

Also, the LYRICS to the song "Overcomer" draw primarily on a BOXING analogy, and (these are not Spoilers, BTW, you can read them in most REVIEWS of the movie) the movie features BASKETBALL and CROSS-COUNTRY as sports...not BOXING.  So to choose a song with a BOXING analogy may give Christians who despise Boxing (I am not one, but there are MANY) a reason not to go, and may also give clever, unsaved cynics and critics a reason to think there's a bit of "false advertising" going on.  Additionally, those who WANTED to see Boxing might be very, very disappointed because the movie is titled after a song which clearly has Boxing as its theme.

Look, I'm a writer and TITLES must accurately convey CONTENTS.  They say "You can't judge a book by it's cover" but you SHOULD be able to judge a MOVIE by its TITLE!!  Just yesterday, I wrote a new poem and posted it on Facebook, asking my Friends for help coming up with a TITLE.  The Kendrick Brothers should have sought counsel about  properly TITLING this movie...not PUBLICLY, not on FACEBOOK, of course but in THEIR inner circles. They didn't...and it shows.  (Frankly, having seen the movie I could come up with BETTER titles but I won't say what they are, those MIGHT be "Spoilers," Lol!!)

I hope the movie (pardon the pun) OVERCOMES this obstacle of its title because ONCE IT KICKS IN, IT IS A MASTERPIECE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.  Despite the seeming predictability that the title suggests, it is filled with PLOT-TWISTS and PLEASANT SURPRISES...there were tears streaming down my face CONSTANTLY in the last 45 minutes or so.  I was touched in my SOUL.  Once again, as in "Flywheel," "Facing The Giants," "Fireproof," "Courageous" and "War Room," the movie ABOUNDS with solid Christian lessons and themes.  Yes, Yes, Yes!! See the movie, even IF you are weary of the SONG "Overcomer," ** 

THIS MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE

"Why New Jersey Will Never Shed Our Rotten Reputation"

  I'm not exactly a World Traveler, but I have visited the Midwest (Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin) many, many times over the years.  Additionally, I have friends from many different parts of the country other than the Midwest. And I can tell you this with total certainty: New Jersey has a bad reputation across America. Most think it's an ugly, desolate place filled with GANGSTERS and "The Sopranos" TV show, which took place in Jersey, certainly DID NOT HELP that perception.

I "never" watched that show (though I do plan to see the movie "The Many Saints of Newark," a Sopranos PREQUEL, if it ever comes out)!! That's because I'm FROM Newark, and the movie was made after James Gandolfini, the original "Sopranos" star, died. I don't ever recall a movie made about Newark, therefore for me it's "must see."

And I did watch five minutes of the FINAL "Sopranos" TV episode because my company cleaned the carpets in the restaurant where that final episode was filmed, the night before the filming. So I'm not a "Sopranos" EXPERT but I've read enough about the show to know it's filled with murders, "f-bombs" and immorality, and filmed entirely in my home state.

And now, our illustrious Governor (a DEMOCRAT of course) has actually named a rest stop on The Garden State Parkway (our pre-eminent road) after GANDOLFINI, the late star of "The Sopranos"!!  BRILLIANT. Here's Governor Murphy's Tweet....

 (Gandolfini's Rest Stop is in MONTVALE, which borders New York State, so it will be the first rest stop available to anyone traveling from the north, driving to or through New Jersey, heading south).

It's not just MURPHY but our PREVIOUS Governor, Chris Christie, a RINO Republican, foolishly honored Gandolfini as well. He had all the flags in the state lowered to half-staff when Gandolfini died.

MISSING FROM THE LIST ABOVE is Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, our only President who served two non-consecutive terms. Considering that Cleveland was BORN in New Jersey and DIED in New Jersey, you'd think HE might have had one of the rest stops named after HIM!! 

But no...we have the actor who starred in The Sopranos, instead.

New Jersey will never shed our rotten reputation, I'm afraid.

"We" just don't seem to WANT to shed it!!

"What About The 'Toxic INHUMANITY' Of Abortion?"

THIS BLOG WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 1-19-2019.

GILLETTE, whose ad condemns "Toxic Masculinity," has donated $333, 000 to the Planned BARRENhood (as someone put it) Abortion business.....


https://www.lifenews.com/2019/01/16/gillette-condemns-toxic-masculinity-but-donates-333665-to-planned-parenthood-abortion-biz/?fbclid=IwAR3TNH6DEdnD8GczbtNP-9j7xDWIfGHkyGJduilIQeRp8qFW6fYk0hIIQLg


Sure, guys who abuse women or bully people are dead wrong...I've been preaching that since I was a kid and saw my dad and step-father do it REPEATEDLY to my mom and ME.  That is why *I* never did those things, and even before I became a Christian, I sought to cultivate gentleness and respect to all.

But now that Gillette is changing THEIR message to try to be Politically Correct...and now that it's come out that they LITERALLY support murdering babies in the womb, I have to ask this question:



What about the "Toxic INHUMANITY" of ABORTION, Gillette??

The same can be asked of women who complain, very often falsely, about the "Toxic Masculinity" of men who allegedly abuse them, yet support killing babies (male AND female) in their wombs when it's convenient.



What about the "Toxic INHUMANITY" of ABORTION, you "Pro-Choice" ladies??


Instead of waiting till Super Bowl Sunday to officially air their "Toxic Masculinity" ad, it would've been nice if Gillette aired a DIFFERENT ad on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, (tomorrow), condemning the "Toxic INHUMANITY" of killing innocent babies in the womb.

They don't have the courage to do THAT, though.

"Memories Sometimes Fail Us"

THIS WAS WRITTEN IN OCT. 2018 DURING THE KAVANAUGH HEARINGS. IT IS REPOSTED HERE WITHOUT ALTERATION.

Now that Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation is delayed ANOTHER week, it gives the Dems time to come up with MORE ancient accusations they can't prove. And they WILL, mind you....perhaps not as silly as the one above, but be prepared.  Their sickening love of abortion and their fear that he will help take away their "right" leaves them no choice, in their twisted minds, but to try to stop his confirmation to the Supreme Court any which way they can.

After all, what's a little Character Assassination to a group that touts the right to kill their unborn kids as part of their Party Platform?  Expect the Dems to PILE ON THE UNJUST JUDGMENTS of Judge Kavanaugh this week, sadly.  And we can thank the aptly named Sen. Flake, a RINO Republican if ever there was one, for enabling this new delay...a delay which gives time for MORE bogus accusers to come forward.

But this blog is entitled "Memories Sometimes Fail Us" and I want to share how MINE failed ME once....big time.  Because, like Judge Kavanaugh I do believe that SOMEthing happened to Dr. Ford in 1982, it's just that she's mistaken about him being involved in it.


In 1985, I lived in Bloomfield, NJ which, at that time was a "Republican" town.  On June 13th, 1985 President Reagan came to visit and I took my wife and kids to see him (along with about 10,000 other citizens) speak outdoors on the steps of our Town Hall.  Okay....fast forward to 25 years later, 2010.  Bloomfield had now changed to a DEMOCRAT town but I, for one, wanted to see the 25th anniversary of Reagan's visit celebrated.  I contacted the local paper and they interviewed me about my recollections of seeing the President.


In the phone interview, I said something like "I'll never forget the way President Reagan's tan suit gleamed in the sunlight that day," but when the paper was published, Reagan was shown wearing a BLACK suit on that day 25 years earlier.  I was totally, totally embarrassed.

Like Dr. Ford, I was 100% certain of my memory...but I was wrong.

Like Dr. Ford, I had NO WITNESSES to support my memory. My first wife (now in Heaven) and 3 kids could not remember what Reagan was wearing that day.

And just as Dr. Ford STILL thinks the Judge was the culprit, I still picture Reagan in a tan suit when I recall June 13th, 1985....despite indisputable evidence to the contrary!!

How could I, an ARTIST who is known for having a GREAT memory, be so wrong??  The answer is, that, LIKE Dr. Ford, I am human. I was mistaken about something that occurred 25 years earlier, so why is it unreasonable to think SHE (and others) might be mistaken about what happened 36 years earlier??  Especially since SHE (Dr. Ford) was drinking at the time and I wasn't (as stated a few blogs back, I am a non-drinker...always have been.)

Memories sometimes fail us, and that's why they can't be relied on without witnesses or indisputable evidence (like that photo of Reagan with the black suit.)

And sadly for Brett Kavanaugh, there are no photos that prove he did NOT rape Dr. Ford...in a Politically Correct climate where the woman is supposed to be believed, without evidence or witnesses, as if women are never wrong, or never lie, or never have an agenda.

In closing, there's a campaign which states "BELIEVE WOMEN" as its theme.  In response to that, I say "BELIEVE GOD" when He says "At the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established" and "The first to present his case seems just, until another comes forward and examines him."  Sometimes women ARE right (see my recent blogs condemning Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby and Bill Hybels) but those men were PROVEN to be guilty, and the Judge has NOT been. And sometimes, women are like Potiphar's wife, accusing an innocent man because THEY are evil (I've been innocent men falsely accused 3 times, by the way, in my 63 years.) Bottom line regarding THIS fiasco: Memories aren't enough.

Memories sometimes fail us.

Memories cannot prove the Judge's alleged guilt.

Prediction: that will not stop the Democrats from TRYING this week, however.

"Bill Clinton. Ugh."

 

ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE IN SEPTEMBER, 2018.

In case you missed the sad news, BILL HYBELS, famous pastor of a church of 25,000 members in Illinois and author of 50 Christian books, resigned recently because of sexual misconduct.  Interestingly enough, I read recently that Hybels, whose church is the 5th largest in America, was once a counselor for disgraced former President Bill CLINTON.

America now seems to have an "Unholy Trinity" of 3 sexual predators, and, oddly, they all happen to be named "Bill" (although there are, unfortunately, too many others with different names, also.)

Regarding the 3 "Bills," well, first, there's a politician, President Bill Clinton who, 20 years ago, had tons of sexual sins come to light.  He was impeached by the House (but not removed from office by the Senate) regarding issues stemming from his sins.

Then, we had an entertainer, formerly known as "America's Dad" no less.  His name, of course, is Bill COSBY and later this month, he (rightly) faces sentencing in jail for his sexual crimes.

And finally, to the politician and the entertainer we must now add Bill HYBELS...a pastor.

(I could also add Conservative commentator Bill O'REILLY and Christian teacher Bill GOTHARD to that list of infamous "Bills" credibly accused of sexual misconduct, by the way).

And I thank God that ANOTHER Bill.....the late, great Billy Graham.....ran his race without one accusation of sexual misconduct ever leveled against him.  Whereas Hybels foolishly allowed himself to be alone with a grown woman in his house, GRAHAM would not even allow himself to be alone in a public ELEVATOR with a woman who wasn't his wife!  Such wise caution kept him from scandal over decades of worldwide ministry.                

But, I digress.

So Bill Hybels (justly) has to RESIGN and may face legal action, perhaps, for his sins.  And COSBY, as I said, rightly faces JAIL TIME.  So, will somebody tell me why Bill CLINTON paid no real price for what HE did??

He should have resigned, like HYBELS did...but he didn't, and 65% of the American people supported him in his stubborn refusal to do the right thing.

And he should have had the rape allegations against HIM investigated as vigorously as COSBY'S allegations were (eventually) investigated.

But not only was Clinton allowed to finish out his second term, he still gets honored and adored by many, and it troubles me deeply. There he was on TV, during Aretha Franklin's funeral recently, sitting up on the stage while glaring at the rear end of one of the singers (see photo above), and many of the folks there STILL practically worshiped him as if he dignified the event by being there.  (Either that, or they were so busy calling TRUMP a snake, they were blinded to the snake they allowed to sit among them.) Clinton should have had so much shame, that IF he sat in that church in that honored seat at all, he should have covered his face with Cicely Tyson's ridiculously oversized black hat.

Or, better yet, Ms. Tyson should have covered it FOR him.

     Bill Cosby?? Disgraced.

     Bill Hybels?? Disgraced.

But........Bill Clinton?? Still the darling of many liberal women though he's the biggest predator of all and still beloved by many black people though he's the greatest example of "White Privilege" that we've all seen in our lifetimes.

Go figure.


If I wasn't a Christian who believed that one day GOD will give everyone who doesn't repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ what they deserve, I tell you, I'd go batty looking at the injustice of it all.

So why does Bill CLINTON get away free?? Beyond the fact that God has allowed it for His own wise purposes, my answers, from the HUMAN side, are these: Because he is 100% Liberal and because he was ALWAYS phony in his profession of being a Christian.  See, Bill COSBY was saying some pretty conservative things before the accusations against got real traction in the media (things like that pastor at Aretha's funeral service was saying....the ones which have brought all that hatred down on him.)  And, Bill HYBELS?? Well he appeared to be a genuine, prominent Christian so the Liberal, mainstream media ALWAYS had it in for him. He just gave them the "gun" to "shoot" him with.

But Bill CLINTON is the kind of guy the Liberals love...he did NOT seem to live out his professed Christianity, and he obviously does NOT believe in personal responsibility for one's actions.  The mainstream media therefore backed him up by suppressing (as much as possible) the truth about him BEFORE he got elected the first time.  And they (and Liberal Democrats) keep him and Hillary "afloat," even now. I actually pity Clinton...if he doesn't repent and truly get saved, he WILL get punished in eternity for the exploitation of women that he got away with NOW.  He's only getting away free in THIS life, you see, and when it bugs me I need to read Psalm 37 and Psalm 73 again, and PRAY for the man!  

In conclusion, the last chapter is not yet written for Bill Clinton, and I pray it's a happy one.  He's not going to like the Alternate Ending, if he doesn't turn to Jesus.

" Yusuf / Cat Stevens: Morning Has NOT Broken YET"

 

REPRINTED FROM MARCH 2020, WITH AN EDIT FROM TODAY (IN BOLD, BLUE FONT AT THE END).

It was early 1972.  I had just become a serious, sincere Roman Catholic and a hippie friend of mine brought me a new album, "Teaser and the Firecat," by a guy named CAT STEVENS. "You'll love this" said George..."HE'S a Catholic, ALSO."

Well, the first song on that album, "The Wind," definitely caught my attention but it was the song "MORNING HAS BROKEN," the hit single from "Teaser," which really grabbed me. It was very spiritual and gave praise to "The Word" (in Scripture, that's the Lord Jesus Christ) in the most beautiful way possible.  Amazingly, the song had NO drumming in it, yet was a huge hit on AM radio. 

If you've never heard the song, here it is....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5sSEkZ86ts

Soon after this, a Catholic friend of mine, Frank, told me that the song came from a Catholic hymnal (it also appears in some PROTESTANT ones), so I knew early on that Cat Stevens didn't WRITE that song, but most of the world thinks he DID, even till this day.  (I even called him "Catholic Stevens" as kind of an inside joke and began to follow his career in earnest.) However I soon learned, via his NEXT album (Fall 1972), that Cat (who wrote ALL of his lyrics, other than "Morning Has Broken") was exploring SEVERAL "dark" religions.  By 1974, his latest album had BUDDHA on the cover and his record sales began to drop in the United States, which still had a heavy Christian influence at that time (America was in our PRE-"Post Christian era, "you might say.) And a year later, 1975, I got saved and didn't listen to Cat Stevens' music again AT ALL, until 9-10 years later, after I'd "detoxed."

Cat's performance of "Morning Has Broken" in the video linked above, which I saw for the first time only RECENTLY, was recorded in 1976 and he was VERY half-hearted in it.  I've seen many of his "live" videos and THAT one was clearly lip-synced, very uncharacteristic of him. 

The video was recorded two years after the "Buddha" album and you may note, if you watch it, that Stevens was wearing a gold CRUCIFIX which flopped around conspicuously as he sang. Trust me, I was SO into him in the early '70s that my teenage friends called me "CHET Stevens".....the crucifix was ALSO out of character for him!!  It was almost like he was trying to win back his dwindling fan base from the days when that very song he was lip-syncing to was his biggest hit. (See, though the "Buddha" album had a song "Jesus" on it, Cat's lyrics also mentioned BUDDHA as if Jesus and Buddha were only both great teachers....Jesus was no longer GOD to him. Jesus Himself said He's THE Way, THE Truth, THE Life....no one comes to the Father but through HIM!! Jesus does not share his glory with ANYONE.)

It was two years after this, that Cat Stevens embraced ISLAM and changed his name to "Yusuf Islam." He left the Music scene for about 25 years (which many give him credit for, but the truth of the matter is THE MUSIC SCENE WAS LEAVING HIM, at least here in AMERICA. Cat Stevens merely "quit" before he was "fired.") In 1972, he seemed to be a man at least OPEN to Christian teachings with "Morning Has Broken," when he first hit it big here.  Then he "flipped." His career here gradually wound down, as most of his fan base gradually "flipped" on HIM.

For about 25 years after becoming a Muslim, it seemed like Islam was keeping Cat from making POPULAR music again. Then, in 2006, he began again, first as "Yusuf Islam," then just "Yusuf," and now as "Yusuf / Cat Stevens" so he appears to be "making his way back" as it were. I still listen to him, even his NEW stuff, but only in self-imposed moderation. And when he gives concerts (NOT in big venues like he USED to), he sings a FEW of his old tunes but NOT "Morning Has Broken." Perhaps his Islamist pals won't LET him sing THAT one because it acknowledges JESUS as the Creator of all?? Hmmmmm.

For Cat Stevens, "Morning" SEEMED to be breaking when he was exposed to TRUE spiritual light almost 50 years ago.  At the moment, he is immersed in DARKNESS but as I said in my blog about him last year, (linked below) I pray for him....I pray that morning has not broken....YET....that he WILL yet see the true Light of the World for who He is.

http://chetitorial.blogspot.com/2019/07/cat-stevens.html

EDIT FROM TODAY: Yesterday was Yusuf / Cat's birthday and I looked up a video, with lyrics, of "Morning Has Broken." Whoever put the lyric video together changed the line about "springing fresh from THE WORD" (a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ) to "THE WORLD."

When this song first appeared on Cat Stevens's album "Teaser and the Firecat" 50 years ago, it was conveyed as "THE WORD" which is what the original author penned!!

"Rockhead?"

                                           

REPRINTED FROM JULY 2019.

I read the Sly Stallone interview in the new "Variety" magazine online the other day.  Suffice it to say that the man who created "Rocky," a character I love, should maybe be called "ROCKHEAD" the way he comes across in real life.

Sly spent most of the very lengthy interview COMPLAINING that he "only" has a net worth of $400 million to leave to his family when he dies.  Not a word of THANKS TO GOD, not a note of GRATITUDE from this one who supposedly is now a Christian.  I find that very enlightening. Considering his "rags to riches" story, he should be publicly praising GOD for his success...but instead he credits HIMSELF in this interview.  Call that "judging" if you want, I call it "by their fruits you will know them." Sly needs to start WALKING THE WALK of following the Lord, not just TALKING THE TALK and hey, he isn't even Talking the Talk anymore!!  (At least Rocky THANKED GOD when he won the title, in "Rocky II"!!)

Then, "Rockhead" complained that he doesn't have ownership of the "Rocky" character, and wants the ones who own it (LEGALLY, mind you) to relinquish it to him. Why should they?? A deal's a deal...the people who own "Rocky" made SLY into a millionaire 400 times over. Without THEIR investment in his character, Sly's "Rocky" would never have gotten off the ground...yet he complains.

What's worse is that SLY now sounds just like ol' CHUCK WEPNER.  Here's what I mean by that.

Five months ago today, February 26th, I blogged about Sly and CHUCK WEPNER, the boxer who partially inspired Stallone to create "Rocky." Wepner begged Stallone for YEARS to compensate him financially for the way Sly made his millions off of Wepner's real-life fight against Muhammad Ali in 1975, but Sly wouldn't give Chuck a DIME for over 30 years till Wepner sued him.  Isn't it ironic that now "ROCKHEAD" Stallone is saying OTHERS cheated HIM the way WEPNER accused SLY, all of those years?? 

As you can see from the picture above, the interview is titled "PUNCHING BACK" but how is Sly "punching back" by claiming victimhood status for banking 400 mil, while others out there can credibly say HE victimized THEM??

Finally, "ROCKHEAD" said in the interview that he wants to make a "Rocky 7." Ugh.

The proposed plot would have Rocky training someone who is in the country illegally, going with him to Mexico and the movie WOULD weigh in on the Immigration Debate. BAD IDEA, no one wants to see the "Rocky" character wade into POLITICAL COMMENTARY!! Oh, sure..."Rocky IV" did that in '85 when Rocky fought the Russian, but the nation was UNITED then under a President (Reagan) who just won re-election by capturing 49 of 50 states!! America is DIVIDED now over Immigration and this bitter division is with us everywhere we go...no one is going to PAY to go see a MOVIE to have "ROCKHEAD" tell them what to think.  It reminds me of when Sly came out against Gun Violence a few years ago while his movie "Bullet to the Head" (which I never saw) was playing in theaters. Hey, I am looking forward to the new RAMBO movie but please....no more ROCKY movies if Rocky is going to get POLITICAL, no matter WHAT side of the aisle he's on.

Ideally, the "Rocky" character appears again in "Creed III" and dies off, once and for all, like MICKEY died in the third ROCKY flick.

And prayerfully, "Rockhead" Stallone REALLY gets saved one day because this interview doesn't give me the slightest hope that he is NOW.

"The Kennedys Exposed"

                                

THIS BLOG WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN APRIL 2018, JUST AFTER THE "CHAPPAQUIDDICK" MOVIE DEBUTED IN THEATERS. 

TODAY IS THE 52nd ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TRAGEDY.

In my opinion, the only way the new Kennedy-Kopechne movie could have captured Teddy better was if ROBERT WAGNER played the Senator!! (Warning: there MAY be some Spoilers in this blog...it depends on how much you already know about the incident portrayed in this movie.)

If only one fifth of this movie is accurate, Teddy was a self-centered, selfish and spoiled snob surrounded a bunch of enablers who (pardon the pun) kept his political career afloat after Mary Jo's death.  But in my opinion, the movie does more than expose TEDDY for what he was.

The movie also exposes The Kennedy Clan for what THEY were.............in a word, evil.

And yes, that includes the much-idolized JFK and RFK.

See, JFK and RFK were better looking than Teddy....and they tend to be sympathetic figures because they were assassinated. Teddy was NOT good looking, and someone died because of him, instead of him being the one who died.

But the three Kennedy sons had the same corrupt FATHER (played brilliantly by Bruce Dern in the movie) and I just find it hard to believe that ALL of the apples (plural) didn't "fall far from the tree."  Even the most stoned-out supporters of JFK and RFK will acknowledge that they were womanizers, and it's obvious Teddy was the same way....why was he out there late at night, alone, with Mary Jo to BEGIN with? It is well-documented that Joe Kennedy, their dad, taught his boys to exploit women all they could and that marriage vows meant nothing.

And JFK, RFK and Teddy did not REBEL against Joe....they went along with his sinful counsel.

This movie highlights ol' JOE and that's why it exposes his three sons as well (not just Ted.)

It's about time America stopped glorifying the Kennedys. The idolatry of them has led to the acceptance of the open womanizer CLINTON, and the celebrity status the Kennedys still have leads voters to be susceptible to Presidents such as Obama and Trump. Enough, already.

The "Chappaquiddick" movie was SUPERB, and I hope it helps stop the idolatry of the Kennedys!

" 'Faux Paul'...........at 55??"

 There's a new wrinkle to the theory that the REAL Paul McCartney died in a car crash in 1966, and was replaced by a man I've nicknamed "Faux Paul." (Note: I did NOT get this new theory from the current magazine shown above, I've heard about it in a two-part VIDEO a very good friend suggested I watch!! The mag above mentions 1969's "Paul Is Dead" hysteria, but gives it no credibility).

Here's that Theory. The videos I referenced say that Paul didn't just DIE in November 1966...he was MURDERED by the VATICAN. Supposedly, the Vatican was mad that, a few months earlier, Beatle John Lennon arrogantly said the group was "more popular than Jesus" and so they decided to punish and WARN him to cease such blasphemy by having his best friend / bandmate James Paul McCartney brutally SLAIN. 

Then, (the Theory continues) the REAL Paul was replaced by "Faux Paul" who changed the group's musical direction and helped them put out "Sgt. Pepper," the "White Album," and "Abbey Road" before Lennon got sick of "living a lie" (letting the world think that "Faux Paul" was the REAL Paul) and leaving clues about the REAL Paul's death in their final albums. Supposedly it was HE who broke the group up in 1970, and everyone then went solo.

Now, as one who's written a book about CATHOLICISM and one who wrote a book about LENNON, I feel qualified to blog about this Theory. (So what follows is MY opinion).

If the Vatican DID want to punish and silence Lennon from FUTURE blasphemies, it didn't work.

His first two solo albums AFTER the Beatles' breakup were FILLED with blasphemous lyrics that John penned. His THIRD one had a song which MOCKED THE POPE, saying he "smoked dope every day." I'm sure the Vatican considered THAT to be blasphemy!! If the Vatican killed PAUL, why didn't the Vatican have JOHN murdered for that...or YOKO...if they were truly behind killing "the REAL Paul" to punish John for ONE blasphemous statement??

And when Lennon HIMSELF was tragically murdered in 1980, no one in the world (to my knowledge) said the VATICAN was the culprit. 

In fact, about  30 years after his death, the Vatican PARDONED Lennon for his 1966 declaration!!

Now, I'm not saying it's impossible that the Theory is true. I'm just saying I see no smoking gun...just a Theory. And as much as I, a former Roman Catholic, am in disagreement with the Catholic church now I can't believe they'd add murdering McCartney to their list of sins, without absolute proof of it.

In conclusion, the "Faux Paul" Theory is a very interesting one, granted...but I do believe that the man who's churned out hit after hit for the past 50 (!!) years now is the REAL Paul McCartney. Yes, he EVOLVED as a musician!! In Summer of '71, his songs "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey" and "Too Many People" showed TREMENDOUS growth over his Beatles days, and that pattern has continued. 

But that, to me, only means that the real Paul McCartney has GROWN as a musician....not that a "Faux Paul" is 55.

"The Idolatry of Michael Jackson"

                                    

THIS BLOG ORIGINALLY APPEARED, AS IS, IN JANUARY 2019.

A new documentary aired at the Sundance Film festival in Utah last week, entitled "Leaving Neverland."  According to reviewers, the film will do to Michael Jackson in the Court of Public Opinion what no one could accomplish in a Court of LAW while Jackson was still alive, namely, prove that he was a child molester.  One reviewer claims that, after it is aired on HBO this spring, no one will be able to listen to Jackson's music again without feeling creepy, and some may be unable to even listen to it at ALL, ever again.

I never listened to his music ANYWAY so this documentary won't change my ability to enjoy it...I didn't have any!  But I certainly have my opinions about Michael as a PERSON and I suspect this film will only reinforce them.

As I've said many times in the past, Michael was cute as that spunky 8 year old kid in the Jackson Five when they debuted almost 50 years ago, but his change to weirdness, in my opinion, began in the early 70s with his song "Ben," sung to a RAT.  Through the years he got worse and worse...though God made him a handsome black MAN he rebelled and gradually morphed into someone who looked white, and appeared somewhat effeminate.  Jay Leno joked that "America is a great country, where else can a poor black boy grow up to be a rich white woman?" but I was not laughing...I was trying to raise 3 kids and had to explain why all of America embraced this black / white /guy / gal and that THEY shouldn't.

Three Presidents, Reagan, Clinton and Bush 43, unwisely honored Michael Jackson and when he died, Jackson's brother Jermaine said Barack Obama never would have been elected if not for Michael Jackson's influence (I believe that.).  Obama, of course, didn't just HONOR Michael, he danced to "Thriller" at the White House and the two infamous influences HE had in his Presidency were 1.) endorsing abortion and 2.) openly endorsing Homosexuality.

It cannot be fairly said that killing children in the womb was something that Obama endorsed because Michael influenced him....Michael LOVED kids. But, as this documentary supposedly proves, he "loved" them in the wrong way, as a freaky pedophile.  There's nothing inherently wrong with men "loving" children in the right way, mind you....JESUS loved children, but Michael Jackson failed to heed the warnings of Scripture about "avoiding the appearance of evil" and slept with them in his BED. My all-time favorite musician, Cat Stevens, once sang "Where Do The Children Play?" because he loves children, but he never gave cause for the allegations of "games" that JACKSON allegedly played with kids...such as the mock "wedding" Jackson supposedly had with one (according to reviews of the documentary.)

That, my friends, a guy / gal "marrying" an underage boy, is even weirder than singing to a rat.

I do believe, however, that Michael Jackson, the popular guy / gal DID influence President Obama to openly endorse Homosexuality.  Look at the way even professing CHRISTIANS tried to say Michael went to Heaven when he died 10 years ago, even though there wasn't a shed of evidence of repentance on his part!  Obama might never have DARED to take that stand when running for re-election three years later if not for this proof of America's willingness to accept perversion. And now we have a world where, according to some, there are DOZENS of new genders (I have a list that suggests there are 100 and counting) whereas, before Michael Jackson there were only TWO which were universally acknowledged.

I, for one, hope that "Leaving Neverland" WILL cause many to stop being able to enjoy Michael Jackson's music, and dance steps, and see who he WAS and the harm he's BROUGHT to the world.  I doubt that it will happen, though, because too many have now openly embraced the perversions Michael modeled...too many IDOLIZE him...it's why you have people weirdly identifying as different sexes, different colors, different AGES than they really are now.

But whether or not his standing changes in the Court of Public Opinion, GOD'S Court has never failed to bring perfect justice to all outside of Christ, I rest in THAT as I await watching the documentary.  The same will be true AFTER I see it, no matter what it proves or doesn't prove.

"Add Reagan (Feb. 6th) In To 'President's Day' "

 

(REPRINTED FROM JANUARY 2019)

About ten years ago I published an online magazine, with the help of several like-minded friends who were writers, web experts and so on. We called it "THE DAILY WAR" and it was basically a political piece from a CHRISTIAN perspective. We started it shortly after Obama was inaugurated for his first term and it lasted about a year...the "Daily War" was against HIM and his godless policies, you see.

Our audience was slowly building to 50k and many LOVED the monthly mag, but internal problems "sank" us. It was never the same after MY dad died and my computer person's dad ALSO died within a month of each other (late 2009.) What you see above is the "cover" of one of our last "issues."

And to be fair, many (Christians) did NOT love our mag...they were so hung up on approving everything Obama did to try to prove they weren't racists, they were SILENT about his sins and wanted US to be silent, ALSO.  There will always be those hampered by "the fear of man which brings a snare," what can I say?? At that point, after we folded, I got into writing and self-publishing books...I'm working hard now on #15.

Anyway, IN that issue from 2010, I made the case that "President's Day" should include RONALD REAGAN'S birthday (Feb. 6th) as well as LINCOLN'S (Feb. 12th) and WASHINGTON'S (Feb. 22nd.) I absolutely ADORED Reagan...if you read the upper left hand corner of the cover in the photo above, you can see the slogan we thought up!! And I still think Reagan's BD should be bundled with the others, even ten years later. Why?? Well I do NOT like "bundling" per se....I'm old enough to recall when Lincoln's birthday and Washington's were separated. I loved it because we got TWO days off from school in February (I hated school) and ONE of those, the 12th, was MY birthday!! But those days are long gone....now we celebrate Lincoln AND Washington together (and some even celebrate ALL Presidents, good AND bad ones, on "President's Day".) And let's face it, the way things are going Reagan will NEVER get his own, separate holiday unless he IS bundled in with Abe and George.

Add Ronald Wilson Reagan, our 40th President, in to President's Day, I say!! I said it THEN and I say it NOW, and I don't care if I'm the ONLY one who says it. He's right up there with the OTHER greats, in my opinion.

"Heading 'North' As We're Going Downhill"

REPOSTED FROM JUNE 2018. 

There's a spot in the mountains of New Jersey (yes, we have mountains in New Jersey, Lol) where the road sign  says "North" but there's a VERY steep incline.  The effect of driving this road, at least for me, is that you feel you are sinking fast, though the sign insists you're going "North" (upwards.) 

Yesterday, when I drove this road again, it made me think of "Gay Pride Month" in America and the many Gay Pride Parades that are taking place in our country this month.  Now, the Liberal mainstream media praises sinful displays like the one pictured above....THEIRS is like the sign which is saying we are going "North" as a nation.  But the reality is, we feel that America is on a steep DECLINE that will DOOM us, if God does not intervene.

And this is one time our feelings are 100% correct.

Please don't tell me you're offended at this photo, I could have shown pics of gay men publicly dressed as giant penises and lesbians as giant vaginas. 

I want to show those of you who care (but are hiding from reality) a small sample what is actually happening out there.  We need to get into our PRAYER closets and pray that these folks get saved or get back in THEIR closets because these open displays of sin, gleefully endorsed by the Liberal media, are killing us as a nation. 

NO OTHER GROUP of sinners attaches the word "PRIDE" to their name.  You don't see ADULTERY Pride parades, or MURDERER'S Pride parades, or THIEVES Pride.  Please don't tell me "this sin is no worse than any other."  While it is true that the least sin of any kind, unrepented of, will land us in Hell, the sin of "Gayness" affects multitudes with the message of rebellion against God as Creator. And they add to that PRIDE, the sin which Scripture says God hates and resists.

Additionally, no other group seeks to enlist CHILDREN as aggressively as the LGBTQs do.  They want to see their sin continue to new generations, but (thankfully) they cannot reproduce naturally so they try to CONVERT children. Kids were present at the parade pictured above.  I don't see OTHER groups of sinners parading their sin where kids are present....do you?? If not then please, please stop saying "their sin is no worse than any other" without the proper qualification to that statement. 

No other group proudly parades their sin while the mainstream media helps them and says we're heading "North"..............as we're going downhill.