Today is the commemoration of the slaughter of the innocents - when Herod ordered the death of all children, two years or younger, in and around the city of Bethlehem. The story is found in Matthew 2, but it's also referenced in Revelation 12:4, when "the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth." Of course the dragon-empowered king failed to kill Jesus, but succeeded in killing other innocent babies.
One of my favorite Christmas carols, from back in the day when I used to sing in madrigal groups, is a song called the Coventry Carol. You might not think that someone would write a Christmas carol about the slaughter of the innocents - and as a lullaby, no less - but it' s a song you never forget. Here's a link to just one version of it on YouTube, with the lyrics (for you musicians, I tried to find a version without the abomination that is the picardy third, but I couldn't - sorry). I'm sure there are better versions of the song out there, but for those who have never heard it, here's the link:
https://youtu.be/6-Kt2Fal4aA?si=46OGXf0UZa2V1s2j
Of course I can't fail to mention that the slaughter of the innocents goes on to this day, to the intolerable shame of our otherwise great country. Planned Parenthood alone has now killed more people than Hitler, and that's no exaggeration. If you haven't yet seen the film Unplanned, I highly recommend it. I'm not sure if it's available on any of the streaming services, but if you can find it, it will be worth the effort. There is actually cause for "feasting" in the progress the pro-life movement has made over the last several years, but the attacks of the culture of death and the multi-billion dollar abortion industry are only increasing, so keep praying for the innocent ones!
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
As I'm going through all my belongings as part of our move, I have come across some audio CDs of my old music, from when I had my band, Remember Rome - if any of you still have a CD player, and you would like me to send you some of what I have, send me the address to send them to at this email address: [email protected]
Some of these CDs are in their original cases, and some were demo samples, but either way, it's all original music written by me, and performed by me and my band back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
I'll be happy to find a good home for these CDs in case you might enjoy them, and because you all have been supporting me (and I haven't produced much content in the last month or so) I'll send you one or more CDs for free. Just give me an address.
Thanks!
Here's the link to the new edition of my Rome book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rome-Second-Pilgrims-Guide-Eternal/dp/B0F8TGTWZX
