Saturday, September 26, 2009

I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE!!

I can’t do it. I can’t watch the news channels anymore. I really HATE that too, because I love to keep up with the news, however I don’t feel like I’m getting honest reporting from any of them. Every time I turn on Fox News, all I hear is snarky, mean-spirited reporting aimed at running down our president and that makes me sad. I don’t know HOW they can say they are “Fair and Balanced” over there, because that is just laughable. I call FOX News the “Republican” Channel.

Then there is the “Democratic" Channel – MSNBC. SO left-wing that I don’t feel it’s giving me accurate information either. The “let’s take God out of everything” channel….To be fair, I haven’t watched much of MSNBC, but when I have watched it, I haven’t been impressed. Both networks seem to have agenda’s. I feel manipulation instead of honest reporting when I watch them. And then we have the “Disaster Channel” – CNN. Everytime I watch CNN, it seems they are constantly reporting about some horrible new disease that we are all about to die from, or a natural disaster that is imminently looming, or how terrorists are moving into our neighborhoods etc…. all their topics seem like they just WANT us to all walk around in panic mode..fearful of everything we eat, wear, touch, see, feel.

Where is our faith in the middle of all this? We all know that God says to NOT worry, right? Remember this verse?:

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Or THIS passage:

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

But how can we NOT worry when we watch FOX, MSNBC and CNN????? They seem to WANT to convince us all that everyone and everything out in the world today is/has something to fear.

And what does God say about our leaders/government?

Romans 13

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Hmmmmm…. Kinda makes you think doesn’t it?? It’s actually a very reassuring verse to me. It reminds me that God IS in control and that He WILL use our leaders to help carry out HIS plans. HE has established our government. So THAT means that even IF Pres. Obama IS the “anti-Christ” as some love to call him…. He’s there because it’s God’s will, right? There’s nothing I can do about THAT, now is there???

So…. do I just sit back and DO nothing about things I think are huge injustices in this world? Of course NOT!! We should always be looking around for things we can do to help others around us. Nothing makes you feel better about YOUR life than taking the time to help someone out who is less fortunate than you are. And believe me, if you look around, you CAN find someone who needs your help. Don't think that you don't have anything to offer. However, what I think is happening in our culture now is that when people turn on the news and hear all the “Panic News” then it puts us into “self-preservation” mode instead of “helping” mode. We think we have to hang on to every penny we have because Pres. Obama is about to raise taxes so high that we won’t be able to feed our families!! OR we need to stop volunteering down at the homeless shelter, because they are all sick and dirty down there, so we might get the Swine Flu and DIE!! OR we should yank our kids out of public schools because they will probably be offered DRUGS, get addicted, then spin out of control!!!

It’s scary out there, I know. And some of those threats are REAL… I know!!! But we can’t let ourselves get paralyzed by the fear. We HAVE to walk in faith, knowing that God IS looking out for us and that he WANTS us to go out into the world with joyful hearts.. NOT with worry and fear. Remember this:

2 Timothy 1:7 -- “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

So, I for one am going to spend less time watching the news channels. I can’t take all the gloom and doom anymore. It hurts my heart… it really does. Good-bye Sean Hannity and Nancy Grace…. No more Bill O’Reilley or Anderson Cooper. Adios Glenn, Greta, Jane and Keith….I’m done with all of you!!! From now on, I will ONLY get my news from the ladies on “The View”. They cover everything I need to know in their “Hot Topics” segment…. HA!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Two shows this week....

Hey guys.... TONIGHT at 6pm, I'll be singing with Miss Kaci Bolls as she celebrates the release of her new EP at The Listening Room Cafe -- 6pm!! My son Derek is playing with her too, so come out for a RARE glimpse of Mom & Son onstage together... LOL Oh, and Kaci's pretty AWESOME too!! Ha! Seriously, she is one of the best singer/songwriter's in town. You won't be dissapointed....

THEN... this FRIDAY night, Sept. 18th at 7pm at The Listening Room (again!) I will be doing a songwriter's night ITR (In-the-Round) with Kaci Bolls, Donnie O'Neal and Jeff Powell. I will be doing songs from MY new EP, "Beautifully Lived" as well as old favorites so please come see us if you can!!!

By the way, for directions/more info on The Listening Room go here:

www.listeningroomcafe.com


Sunday, September 6, 2009

Friday, September 4, 2009

Franklin Jazz Festival....

Hey guys... I'm singing with "Twelve Against Nature".... Nashville's premier "Steely Dan Experience" at the Franklin Jazz Festival tomorrow night... Ya'll come out!

Sat. Sept. 5th
6pm
Main Stage
Franklin Jazz Festival
Franklin, TN

See you there!!