"The Golden Age"

I wished I lived in the golden age
Giving it up on the Broadway stage
Hang with the rats and smoke cigars
Just have a break with Frank and count the stars

Dressed to the nines, we've had too much
Shiny jewels, casino cash
Tapping feet, wanna take the lead
A trip back in time is all I need

Oh!
Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo

I'm on my way, gonna make it big
Gonna make these songs for the chicks to dig
It's really hot and a little bit sour
We're getting your strength to the maximum power

Flying away from reality
Whatever-ever happened to gravity?
I see it clear, a shooting star
And I'm really gonna sing it like da-da-da

Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Yeah!

Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Yeah-yeah!
Woah-oah!
Wow!

Ohhh silver screen on a rainy day
Sally Bowles in a cabaret
Shaking sticks, oh what a show
Fresh and jolly, from tip to toe

Rambling down the boulevard
With a fly, a bird, and a wooden heart
My mind is set, I walk the line
But I never really thought that it would feel this fine

Yeah!
Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free!

Yeah!
Hey! Hey!
Whoo!
Ooh!
Oooooaaahh!

Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo

Prayer for Palm/Passion Sunday

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit—
O God, we need to be cleansed—
We truly desire to be made clean—
even though—fickle as we are—
we find ourselves so often wallowing in the mud.
So cleanse us, heal us, transform us,
so that we may perfectly love you—
O God, so often our love is less than perfect—
indeed, we are often apathetic towards you—
the very opposite of loving.
But we want to love you perfectly.
We long to live our lives
to the praise and glory of your holy name.

Almighty God, draw me nearer to you, deeper into your heart.
And as you do, help me to discover
that my companions on the journey of life
are women and men loved by you
as fully and intimately as you love me.
In your compassionate heart, there is a place for all of them.
No one is excluded.
Give me a share in your compassion, dear God,
so that your unlimited love may become visible
in the way I love my brothers and sisters (Henri Nouwen).

Heal my fickleness, O God;
Heal our fickle church.
Fill us with your power — power made perfect in weakness.
Remind us of your presence — close, intimate, real.
Make clear to us your purposes —
your vision of our common life and work and mission.
As one body, we pray for those who are lonely or sad, sick or dying, confused or filled with doubt, filled with self-pity or anger or hatred, longing for a sign of your love and grace, near despair in the midst of their trials and temptations, or suffering for their faith.
As one body, we pray for all nations and peoples. We pray for peace in the hearts of all people. We pray for wisdom and inspiration and humility in the hearts of rulers, elected officials, presidents, governors, judges, representatives.
As one body, we pray for the people of our community, our county, our state and nation. We pray for the Holy Spirit to work in fickle hearts to lead people to discover and know the reality of your “un-fickle” love in Christ -

So that hearts and minds and lives may be transformed;
So that darkness may be overcome by the Light;
So that ignorance may yield to wisdom;
So that bigotry may be put out by understanding;
So that the “desire for revenge” may be healed by forgiveness;
So that greed may lose out to gratitude and generosity;
So that oppression may give way to justice;
So that the sick may be healed;
the hungry, fed;
the grieving, consoled;
So that sad hearts may find joy;
So that violence may be crushed by compassion;
So that hatred may be overcome by love.

Patient and understanding, loving and tender, eternal and holy God: Take the feeble prayers of our fickle hearts and transform our requests through the perfect intercessions of our Lord Jesus Christ. Guard our hearts and minds and keep us in your love until that glorious day when your kingdom is fully come — on earth as it is in heaven — that day when Christ will be all in all.

Amen.

Having Forgotten to Bring a Book, She Reads the Car Manual Aloud

Having Forgotten to Bring a Book,
She Reads the Car Manual Aloud
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Do not sit on the edge of the open moonroof.
Do not operate the moonroof if falling snow
has caused it to freeze shut.
(I thought it was a sunroof, actually.)
Do not place coins into the accessory socket.

The cup holder should not be used while driving.
Well, when then?
While parked at home?
Perhaps, at midnight, with insomnia?
Hi, Mom, I think I'll just go have a glass of milk
in the driveway.

If you need to dispose of the air bag
or scrap the vehicle...
Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage area.
Do not operate the defogger longer than necessary.
Please remove necktie or scarf while working on
engine.
Never jack up the vehicle more than necessary.

A running engine can be dangerous.


From A Maze Me: Poems for Girls by Naomi Shihab Nye
Greenwillow Books, 2005


It's a great book if you need a gift for a young girl. My daughter didn't think so, but it is. I have an extra copy if anyone's interested.

Peace, Love & Coffee.... Randy