Sunday, August 31, 2014

Covenant Of Hope Ministries: Being There for One Another

Covenant Of Hope Ministries: Being There for One Another: Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Elder ...

Being There for One Another

Wednesday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries

Jackson 5- I'll Be There lyrics

One of the responsibilities we as Christians have is being there for one another. Yes, the church leaders are supposed to be there for the congregation but the congregation is supposed to be there for one another and for the church leaders as well. After all, the church leaders are still human and have troubles, needs, and joys just as any other member has. Be there for one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 New International Version (NIV)

10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 King James Version (KJV)

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

We are supposed to be there for one another in bad times and in good. Besides people having illnesses or great sorrows, they also have events like the birth of a new child or grandchild, a promotion at work, a new house, or any number of other things. We are to be compassionate and empathetic with our fellow members. Be there for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:26 New International Version (NIV)

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26King James Version (KJV)

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Here is another verse that speaks of the same thing.

Romans 12:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Sometimes we get too involved in ourselves, in gossip, or in pointing out things wrong in others... which we shouldn't do... to notice or care if someone else is having a problem or a happy event. We are not to be selfish but to look to the needs of others as Christ did. We are to humble ourselves before the Lord. We are not to be vain or do things out of selfish ambition. We are to do things out of love for one another. Be there for one another.

Philippians 2:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Footnotes:

Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
Philippians 2:7 Or the form

Philippians 2:1-8 King James Version (KJV)

2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We are not to be double minded, following both God and Satan. We are not to follow the world and seek material riches which will crumble but spiritual riches which will last an eternity in heaven. Be there for one another.

James 4:4-10 New International Version (NIV)

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[c]
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Footnotes:

James 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
James 4:6 Prov. 3:34

James 4:4-10King James Version (KJV)

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Be there for one another. Be there for your church leaders. Do what you can to help others even if it's only a kind word. Everyone will have disagreements now and then but we must do what we can to avoid letting those disagreements interfere with the love of God. Be there for one another includes your pastor, your deacons, your elders, and your fellow brethren. We are all to love one another. That is what Jesus taught his whole life.

Jesus never advocated war. He taught us to forgive and turn the other cheek. Settle your differences in as peaceful way as possible. Love one another and forgive one another. Friends do whatever they can, no matter how far away they are. Miles don't matter, understanding and communication do. Be there for one another.

I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Unfinished Sermon/Study for Rev. Laura Neff

False teachers and prophets

There seems to be a rising trend today of people claiming that Jesus will make you rich, that reptilian-human hybrids are ruling the world and creating religions to control people, and some who completely deny that any deity exists. There are also those promoting war and violence, two things that Jesus never promoted. There are those who are teaching that you are God and any number of things that might be pleasing to the ears of their listeners. They don't really care about what's true and what's not. Even when shown proof outside the bible of Jesus' existence, they continue to deny that he existed. Some claim that they are supporting love when they continually spout hate and fear. Why is this? Let's look at Romans 16:17-19

Romans 16:17-19 New International Version (NIV)

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Here's the King James version for those of you who prefer it.

Romans 16:17-19King James Version (KJV)

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

Paul was warning Christians to be aware of those who smooth talk and flatter in order to distort the truth that they were taught. It seems that there are many who are gullible today. This verse describes them as “naive” or “simple” people. These are the kind of people which charlatans prey upon. They will believe that Nigerian scammers are going to send them $10 million if they just send in a $150 payment. They will consistently believe any story about a UFO, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or any other story that presents itself. It's not necessarily their fault. They either haven't been exposed to much education or haven't been exposed to the concept of con artists. They are, basically, simple people and there is always a con artist who is out to take advantage of them.

2 John 1:4-11 New International Version (NIV)

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

Footnotes:

2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you

New International Version (NIV)

2 John 1:4-11King James Version (KJV)

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

John is warning people that those who do not teach that we should love one another and who deny that Jesus came in the flesh are antichrists. It says do not take him (or her) into your house or bid them God speed. What is God speed? Merriam-Webster defines it as “a prosperous journey.” The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines it as “1. an expression of one's good wishes for a person's success and safety

[C15: from God spede may God prosper (you)]”

The NIV leaves out the old term “God speed” but uses “welcomes them” it its place. The basic idea of this though is that anyone who welcomes them or wishes them a prosperous journey, success, or safety is partaking in the same evil which they are promoting. You are partaking in their wicked lies to deceive others whom they can find that will believe them.

There are people today who are proud to deny that Jesus ever existed despite the evidence to the contrary. There are those who proudly proclaim their atheism. There are those now who are proudly proclaiming their Satanism. This is their right under the Constitution but those who have done any serious study know that what they are promoting are lies. Some of them may not think they are lies of Satan because they don't believe in God or Satan but they are the most deceived. To deny God and Satan, good and evil, even Yin and Yang if you're Buddhist, is denial of what is inside each and every on of us. We all have these negative and positive forces within us. There is a Cherokee Legend which describes this fight that goes on within us. From the website “First People – The Legends”

Native American Legends

Two Wolves

A Cherokee Legend

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Here is the same story, but it is called "Grandfather Tells" which is also known as "The Wolves Within"

An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.

I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.

But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."

If you “feed” these deceivers; these false prophets; these liars by welcoming them and wishing them a prosperous journey, they are going to feel that they are doing well and be encouraged to continue to deceive others. You are also feeding your inner evil side. Paul spoke of this same struggle in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:30-34 New International Version (NIV)

30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”[a]

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[b] 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander

New International Version (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:30-34 King James Version (KJV)

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

Paul was upset that some of their followers didn't have the knowledge of God. We are not to partake in the sin of others; in their lying; in their misleading; in their hateful misleading. Sometimes even when we hang around bad company to try to show them the love, peace, and truth that Christ brings, we can fall into a lull and start mimicking their ways. Those who have honestly tried to communicate with those who have no understanding of Christ know how great the temptation can be at times. It's easy to join along with them in their hateful blame and condemnation of others. In doing so, we feed that evil wolf inside us. Paul said that he died daily (to himself) that he could boast of their works in Christ Jesus yet he implored them to stop sinning... to stop being deceived by evil communications. He wanted them to stop being ignorant of the ways of the liars, the deceivers, and the con artists and to start teaching those who are simple of the knowledge of God. How did he know that they did not have knowledge of God? We have studied this recently and consistently.

1 John 4:8New International Version (NIV)

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

New International Version (NIV)

1 John 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

John also points out another way to know further on in verse 20.

1 John 4:20New International Version (NIV)

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

New International Version (NIV)

1 John 4:20King James Version (KJV)

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

We can know that those who are promoting tales of lizard people using religion to control people, those who are teaching that we should hate and fear all Muslims or anyone else, those who teach anything other than the things that Jesus taught us are false teachers because they use fear to control people. Their hearts are bound by hate. They cannot give without expectation of something in return. They are suspicious of anyone who is different than them. They THRIVE on hate whether or not they realize it. Jesus taught us not to fear, but to love.

1 John 4:18-20 New International Version (NIV)

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

New International Version (NIV)

1 John 4:18-20 King James Version (KJV)

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

If you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ, you are not living the love of Christ. If you are hating your brothers and sisters in Christ, you are doing the opposite of what Christ wants; therefore, being an antichrist. In I John, we are warned that there are many antichrists.

1 John 2:18 New International Version (NIV)

Warnings Against Denying the Son

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

New International Version (NIV)

1 John 2:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

This is just another sign that the times are near. We've already seen “birthing pains” such as were mentioned in Matthew 24. We've seen earthquakes in diverse places. We've seen disasters that kill and mutate sea life. We've seen tsunamis and all types of natural disasters in the last few years that were predicted in the end times. About all we haven't seen is Wormwood, Christians being killed worldwide, and “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.”

Revelation 8:10-11 King James Version (KJV)

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

Revelation 8:10-11 New International Version (NIV)

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

Footnotes:

Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.

New International Version (NIV)

What is this abomination of desolation that Daniel talks about?

Daniel 9:27 New International Version (NIV)

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[a] In the middle of the ‘seven’[b] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[c] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.[d]”[e]

Footnotes:

Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
Daniel 9:27 Or ‘week’
Daniel 9:27 Septuagint and Theodotion; Hebrew wing
Daniel 9:27 Or it
Daniel 9:27 Or And one who causes desolation will come upon the wing of the abominable temple, until the end that is decreed is poured out on the desolated city

New International Version (NIV)

Daniel 9:27 King James Version (KJV)

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

Some believe that this is a reference to Jesus' death on the cross. There are some key scriptures that might give us further understanding though.

Luke 21:20New International Version (NIV)

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

New International Version (NIV)

Luke 21:20King James Version (KJV)

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

King James Version (KJV)

by Public Domain

Actually, there are many theories based upon different verses as to what the abomination of desolation is. Some believe that it is the turning of the church

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The Scariest Event of my Life

Prelude

I had dealt with gangs, drug wars, murderers, and just about any other kind of issue you might run into in life, and while those things may seem scary to some, what happened in this event was undoubtedly the scariest in my life. The events are true as were the superstitions of those with whom I was working.

The Event

It had been a pretty good week on the Catalytic Cracking unit. The unit was running smoothly and I was working the graveyard shift running the Vapor Recovery Unit board. When the unit was running smoothly and everything was on-spec, there wasn't as much to do, so we would talk over emergency procedures, read the operating manual, or talk over safety procedures. This was pretty standard and sometimes got to be pretty boring.

Our chief decided that we needed to understand how serious things could be, so he got me to read the story about the Texas City Disaster since I read well. The story was about the longshoremen removing the hatch covers on Hold 4 of the French Liberty ship Grandcamp as they prepared to load the remainder of a consignment of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The fertilizer had caught fire and water and steam had no positive effect on quenching the flames, so they tried battening down the hatches to starve the flame of oxygen. Big mistake. This caused one of the worst explosions in history.

The force of the explosion was so great that it blew away the firefighters who had been on the dock fighting the fire. It disintigrated them except for what was left was their boots, which still sat on the dock in their places, amazingly. I suppose they considered that picture too gruesome to put on the web, but they did, indeed, have photos of it.

Ammonium nitrate gives off a yellowish-orange smoke when it burns, so people flocked to the dike to get a closer look. Another big mistake. It killed 576 people and injured more than 5000. There wasn't room in the cemeteries, so they had to dig mass graves in which to bury the people. There wasn't enough space in the hospitals to treat everyone who was injured, so they had to set up tents to treat people who were lucky enough to get treatment.

Some of the buildings that were several blocks away from the explosion were completely engulfed in flame and the destruction to property was massive.

There were bodies and debris everywhere. People had shards of glass stuck in their eyes and in their heads among other places in their bodies. The physical pain and suffering was tremendous, but most probably not as bad as the emotional trauma caused by the disaster.

After I read the story, we discussed the tragedy and what could happen if the situation were to occur again since there were so many homes and businesses near the refineries and chemical plants. There was an ominous feeling in the control room and the story had upset us all, making us start to wonder how we got involved in such a job in the first place.

After a couple hours, everyone settled down some and started falling back into the same old routines. I kept reviewing the story in my mind and contemplated what I would do in such a situation, wondering if I would have the courage to stay and fight the situation if something like that actually occurred. Of course, everyone told me that there was no way that I would be able to stay in such a situation and that I would probably be the first one to run for the gate. Since no one really knows what they will do until confronted by such a situation, I couldn't disagree with them.

We were working graveyards, and some of the people who were working on the outside jobs came in after their rounds and shot the shit for awhile, then dozed off a bit somewhere around 6:30am. Not much longer, there was a huge explosion from Catalytic Cracking Unit #3, which was about a block away from our unit. The foreman ran outside to see what happened and a second blast occurred. The aftershock of each blast felt like a needle was stuck in every pour of your body as it knocked you back and there were particulates flying around in the air so heavily that it was like being in a heavy fog. Everyone started running but me. One person first tried to crawl into a locker that would have been impossible for him to fit in, then ran out the door. Only two of us were left in the control room.

I hadn't been there long enough to have experience operating the Catalytic Cracking board, and the person operating that board started saying he was going to run. Just when he started taking off, I grabbed him by the arm and reminded him of all the lives of the families that were nearby if we didn't try to keep things under control. He said he didn't care, so I reminded him that his family didn't live too far from the plants and that the explosion in the Texas City Disaster had caused a chain reaction throughout the other refineries and chemical plants. To his credit, he agreed to stay with me and help me fight things.

It was a good thing that he did because it wasn't long before Oil Movements accidentally shut off the flow from our propane tower and the wind was blowing straight toward our furnace. The pressure built rapidly as I quickly grabbed the phone and called Oil Movements to have them find another way to route gas. When the woman answered, she was frantic.

Cat 3 blew up! Cat 3 blew up! she screamed and cried over the phone.

I talked to her for about a minute to calm her down, but she kept repeating, Cat 3 blew up!

Yes, I know, I said, but if you don't find us another way out with our propane, you're going to have Cat 1 exploding to deal with.

Oh, oh, ok, she stammered. I'll try to see if we can do something.

The images I had seen danced in my head and I considered what would happen to the people nearby if such a chain of explosions were to occur. All I could do was grit my teeth, hope, and pray.

I had done all I could to control the pressure, but soon it would be too late if something didn't happen quickly. A few minutes later, and just before the relief valve blew, luckily, someone in Oil Movements found another route for the propane and the pressure started alleviating. I was never so relieved in my life. I remained calm through the entire incident, then drove home.

When I reached my driveway and walked to the door, it hadn't hit me yet, but as soon as I entered the doorway and closed the door, realizing everything was now safe, I broke down for awhile. If a person ever needed to smoke a joint, that was definitely the time. Luckily, a girlfriend was there to comfort me or I would have been completely alone to face my distress. It had been hard for me to believe that those who had been there and had experience had all abandoned me or wanted to abandon me as I fought to save the refinery and the lives of the people surrounding the refinery. It's not that I blamed them for running, really, because I would have liked to be able to run myself if it were safe for the community for me to do so. As it was, many homes and businesses had damage and broken glass. We were just lucky that the damage didn't continue to spread throughout the refinery.

What caused the explosion? The weekend was coming up, so instead of paying overtime and having a high pressure propane leak at Alky 2 fixed, they had the maintenance men throw on a quick fiberglass patch. They figured it would hold until Monday, then they could consider fixing it right. The patch had blown and the propane cloud traveled across the street to Cat 3's furnace. The first explosion had been the furnace exploding and the second explosion was from the fire traveling back to the propane tower, causing it to explode.

After that day, I was forbidden by the chief and the rest of the crew to read the story of the Texas City Disaster. They just knew that somehow my reading that story had caused the explosion and they credited the lucky horseshoe that was hanging in the control room with saving the day and keeping anyone from being killed. Ah, superstition. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Copyright © 2008 Cal Jennings

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

"Attempted Rapture" "Saint" Version Book Review

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Interview of Cal-el aka Cal Jennings of Space Eagle Productions

Interview of Cal-el aka Cal Jennings of Space Eagle Productions

When did you start playing music and when did you start composing?

I started playing music when I was about 4 years old. But I maybe started a little earlier. I remember my grandmother's neighbor teaching me to play accordion and I played around on my grandparents' piano. When I was 5 years old my mom bought me a toy piano that had working black and white keys so I played on that. My grandfather gave me the xylophone that he played on the radio when I was about 6 or 7. My dad bought a guitar and never played it. I wasn't supposed to touch it but would play around on it when he was at work. Ultimately, I got a guitar lesson record and book and learned how to play notes and chords. I'm a self-taught and I had the the quality of being a perfectionist though I have become much more lax in my old age. When I was in sixth grade, my mom bought me a cornet which I played through high school becoming 1^st chair cornet and 2^nd chair trumpet only because I didn't have a trumpet. Trumpet became my main instrument, though I also bought an altonium because it was rare and the right price at a pawn shop. I played the altonium in college.

In terms of composition, I started in high school. Since my main instrument was cornet, I was used to playing single note lines of melody so writing in the bass clef was difficult (and still is) for me.

What was your first instrument?

My first instrument was accordion or perhaps the toy xylophone that I had as a child. I was pretty versatile even back then.

What were your early musical influences?

My early influences were anti-war folk groups like Peter, Paul, and Mary and other groups similar to them. I loved the harmony and the lyrics since they went along with what Jesus taught. My mom listened to The Beach Boys, Bobby Vinton, and Elvis a lot so they inspired me too. My dad played Johnny Cash a lot so “Folsom Prison Blues” was the first song I learned to play on guitar. Robert Watkins and Rick Cummings used to come over and play “Long Black Veil” a lot so they were and inspiration for me to sneak and play my dad's guitar. If he had found out, I would have gotten the beating of my life. When The Beatles came out, they became my biggest influence. I was a Beatle Freak as we were known back then. haha

How do you feel about writing music? Does it just come to you?

I love writing music but it does have to come to me or I have to be in the mood to write something. I did have one song that came to me in a dream. It was being sung by a torch singer in a club. The melody was haunting but I was just walking up the aisle to exit to the right when she was singing. I don't know where we were leaving to when we were leaving the club but the melody was haunting and I could only remember a few of the lyrics. I talked to one of my friends, Veronica Garcia, and she suggested the way the lyrics should go so I wrote the song based on that.

There are cross-overs between country and rock, but a cross over between rock and ethereal music seems unusual.

I compose soft Rock music, Country music, Ethereal music, or whatever comes to me. One day I wrote a “beat” just to prove I could do it. The ethereal music comes from the God part of myself. I arranged Pop rock like Chicago songs so I could play them on cornet for a long time before I started composing. I wanted to play with other players though so I started writing parts for other instruments. The love of a woman inspired my first semi-classical piece. Love or breakups are most of my inspiration, though at times there are songs that were inspired by a good mood. I love interesting, melodic chords so it comes natural to me.

What is the name of your band?

I don't have a band except for my music composition program, Harmony Assistant by Myriad. Right now, my music composition program has an optional program, Virtual Singer, which I purchased that can sing the lyrics. That produces my “backup singers” for now. In my videos, I call my “band” “Cal-el.” It's a take off on Superman being portrayed as Jesus in Superman Returns. Someone had asked people to dress up as super heroes to talk to school children about Jesus and since I was in the Superman Returns Webmaster Program, naturally, I dressed up as Superman. Superman's name is “Kal-el,” the “el” representing “of God.” My name is Calvin or Cal for short which sounds like “Kal” so I adapted the name since I was part of an online ministry for those who are “disabled, disadvantaged, displaced or disenchanted in this world” and can't or won't get out to a church. The first time I wore the T-shirt, jeans, and cape outfit was at a 4^th of July fireworks display in Tomball, TX. I was surprised to find that the elderly were as excited as or more excited than the kids were and would drive by and yell, “Hi Superman!” Ever since then, the name and t-shirt stuck. I used to wear a leather jacket with the t-shirt but it just gets too hot in this part of Texas. I would LOVE to have others collaborating online if I can't have a band.

Who are your favorite musical performers and composers?

One of my favorite musical performers is... believe it or not... Barry Manilow. I think he stole my idea of changing classical music into Pop music. LOL (I really thought that for awhile.) I like Kenny Loggins, James Taylor, and other relatively mellow music for the most part. John Barry and John Williams are my favorite composers. They really know how to set the mood for a movie. I'm really not into Rap. I think the lyrics are abusive toward women and support an attitude of greed for the most part.

Friday, June 13, 2014

A Summer Day - Poem

A SUMMER DAY
by Cal Jennings

Cotton balls up in the sky
This bright blue Summer day
Birds are flying in the air
Somewhere along the way
Butterflies go flying by
Outside the window pane
Not a trouble in the air
Makes life seem almost sane

People huddled safe inside
The air conditioned rooms
Glance outside to spy upon
A toad upon a 'shroom
Dragonflies go swooping by
And hoover by a tree
Bearing scarlet buds of pretty
Flowers that will be

All the world seems far away
Out upon Nature's trail
Thoughts turn to our childhood as
We watched a crawling snail
Turtles crawling on the banks
Of Buffalo Bayou
Then at night the fireflies
Would light for me and you

Summer days have come and gone
For half a century
Since those days when we would climb
Upon the highest tree
All the years passed rapidly
And lessons we did learn
Still a breezy Summer day
Is such a blessed turn

Our minds now not different than
The wonders of a child
If we open up our eyes
And look into the wild
Mysteries are there to see
If we will only look
Take our eyes off of a screen,
Unbury from a book.

Let the wind flow through your hair
And laugh like you're a child
Playing with your best of friends
Imaginations wild
Be a knight of long ago
Or princess you may be
Slaying mighty dragons with
A twig plucked from a tree

Love will come and love will go
As years go passing by
And the same it is with life
And some tears we shall cry
Take the time to enjoy life
And wonders that it holds
Enjoy the sweet experiences
That all our lives can hold

Copyright (C) 2014 Cal Jennings