let love be without hypocrisy. abhor

what is evil. cling to what is good. be kindly

affectionate to one another with brotherly love,

in honor giving preference to one another; not

lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the

lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,

continuing steadfastly in prayer (romans 12:9-12).

cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

do not fret--it only causes harm.

for evildoers shall be cut off;

but those who wait on the lord,

they shall inherit the earth (psalm 37:8-9).

being confident of this very thing, that he

who has begun a good work in you will

complete it until the day of jesus christ (phillippians 1:6).

my kabuki

today's tunes are brought to you by the eagles, third eye blind, three doors down, hootie and the blowfish and garth brooks.

mama says this one reminds her of you.

desperado
these things that are pleasing you
can hurt you somehow...
now it seems to me some fine things
have been layed upon your table
but you only want the ones
that you can't get...
your prison is walking
through this world all alone
don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
the sky won't snow, and the sun won't shine
it's hard to tell the nighttime from the day...
come down from your fences
let somebody love you
before it's too late

it was a four-hour drive from my apartment to the folks' house. this was on repeat the whole way home.

the god of wine
there's another chip you haven't spent
and you're cashing them all in...
the alchohol, it permeates
and soon the cells give way
and cancels out the day...
every glamourous sunrise
throws the planets out of line
a star sign out of whack
a fraudulent zodiac...
you let me down

and since you've left us, every time i hear here without you, i think of you. i heard it at one this morning. as if i needed the reminder.

at three a.m. when the cops were calling mom and dad, i was in my apartment cleaning out my cds and came across this one.

not even the trees
someone please talk to me
cause i feel you cry
and you're sitting with him
and i know i'll never see you again...
and i wanna know if it's true
when he looks at me, won't you tell me
does he realize the pain i'm in
he took you too soon
and now my days are short
and my nights are long...
and it makes me wonder
as i sit and stare
will i see your face again
tell me, do you care...
and right now i just can't see
cause i'm feeling weak
and my soul begins to bleed
and no one's listening to me
not even the trees

mama says this one makes her think of you, too. it makes me think of her thinking of you.

wolves
i spent the morning thinking
about the ones the wolves pulled down...
lord, please shine a light of hope
on those of us who fall behind
and when we stumble...
could you help us up while there's still time...
i don't mean to be complaining, lord
you always see me through
and i know you've got your reasons
for each and everything you do
but tonight outside my window
there's a lonesome mournful sound
and i just can't keep from thinking
about the ones the wolves pull down

prayer for those in need of respect

most merciful god,

there are many in this city

who hate themselves

who consider their lives worthless

who have not known the healing of love

touch them with the wonder

and the power of your transforming love

that their lives may be may whole

that they find fulfillment in life

that they my rejoice in your blessing (vienna cobb anderson).

this week's wisdom

therefore strengthen the hands which hang

down, and the feeble knees (hebrews 12:12).

and last week's

but we urge you brethren...that you also

aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own

business, and to work with your own hands, as

we commanded you, that you may walk

properly toward those who are outside, and

that you may lack nothing (1 thessalonians 4:10-12).