9/18/13

From Gary... Just for fun


















If you know who Ray Charles is, then you will recognize this picture.  He had a fantastic voice and stage presence.  And I remember many of his songs, including the one sung in the video, which I labelled "Just for fun" above.  By the way; I just kept smiling all the way through it.  Whether it was the bird or my recollection of the movie (The Blues Brothers) I don't know and really don't care.  Life is too short and somehow there just can't be enough smiles and happiness here on this Earth.  As I think of this bit of foolishness, indulge me, as I relate a passage from the New Testament...

Acts, Chapter 12

 1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.  2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.  3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.  4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.  5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.  6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

  7  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands.  8 The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.”  9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.  10
 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

 11  When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.  13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.  14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 

  15  They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.


Peter was miraculously release from prison and went to the house of Mary.  I can only imagine the scene at Mary's house; but what I can visualize is funny!!! Well, it is funny to me, anyway.  However, please remember.... I AM A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER!!!