Brendan Shea's Blog

Thanksgiving Song

In America – White Cross

I grew up, here in America
Where good people worked hard
And everyone got along
I thought things were fine, here in America
But I was wrong

It seems it’s all black and white, here in America
Either the color of money, or the color of your skin
Used to know wrong from right, here in America
And we will again

We can all live together
With Christ as our Lord
And us united in Him
We will all live forever
When the King of kings comes again

Through the eyes of our God, I see America
With no black and no white
None in bondage or free
Because Jesus is Lord, here in America
And He’ll always be – Oh yeah!

We can all live together
United in Him

Song: Rex Carroll and Dez Dickerson* Production: Phil Bonanno, Simon Hanhart, and Rex Carroll

*It is very interesting to me that Dez Dickerson left Prince & the Revolution because he became a born-again Christian. The split was amicable. I listened to Prince for years, and try to listen to his clean songs now and then. I was excited to know that Dickerson co-wrote this outstanding Christian song!

Retraction?

Dear readers,

This is supposed to be Positive Press, but when I commented on a recent popular film negatively, I was speaking my mind, but I may have been a little judgmental. I may have spoken the truth, but am not sure God wants me to talk like that. I apologize, and will try to speak the truth without vitriol.

Best,

Brendan Shea

Thank you to my readers!

Dear Readers, thanks to you, my book is #81 in Physician & Patient Healing!

Matterless Affairs

Or, things that are irrelevant… or worse.

I went to see a movie yesterday about a group of magicians. It was peppered with a few references to witchcraft, featured directives from tarot cards and had a statue of the devil or a demon.

I regret seeing it, while otherwise, it seemed fairly harmless.

The previews that came before the film were disturbing: Tales of serial killers, psychopaths and extramarital affairs. Why do I still go to the movies?

Also, I had forgotten to go to my church workday, so I was feeling guilty, and whenever I go to the movies, having lunch out first, and getting popcorn or other treats, I feel there must be millions who are lacking safety, to say nothing of food, clothing and shelter.

Then, at home, Wicked is on the TV. I am not into it, but I watch it for a bit. Elphaba is compelling in her earlier years, but apparently becomes an evil witch. And there is a “nobleman” visiting Oz, and he is “seducing” the men as well as the women, during his featured song. I think that is NOT okay.

I’m not trying to judge anyone, but I think God hates anything that is sexually immoral, and not just homosexuality. Adultery and fornication are also sins.

Sorry to rant, but the world is full of things that aren’t worthy of Christ. I regret that some of them appear before me. I’d rather they did not.

Not that I don’t have my own sin, to be perfectly honest and clear.

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Song of the Week

Testify to Love – Avalon

“Testify To Love”

All the colors of the rainbow,
All the voices of the wind;
Every dream that reaches out,
That reaches out to find where love begins;
Every word of every story,
Every star in every sky,
Every corner of creation lives to testify

[Chorus:]
For as long as I shall live,
I will testify to love.
I’ll be a witness in the silences
When words are not enough.
With every breath I take,
I will give thanks to God above.
For as long as I shall live,
I will testify to love.

From the mountains to the valleys,
From the rivers to the sea (rivers to the seas);
Every hand that reaches out,
Every hand that reaches out to offer peace (give peace);
Every simple act of mercy,
Every step to kingdom come (kingdom come);
All the hope in every heart will speak what love has done.

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Colors of the rainbow
Voices of the wind
Dream that reaches out where love begins
Word of every story
Star in every sky
Corner of creation testify
Mountains to the valleys
Rivers to the sea
Hand that reaches out to offer peace
Simple act of mercy
Step to kingdom come
Every heart will speak
Of what love has done
Colors of the rainbow
Voices of the wind
Dream that reaches out where love begins
Word of every story
Star in every sky
Corner of creation testify

[Chorus x2]

Written by Paul Field, Henk Pool, Robert Riekerk, and Ralph van Manen

24

My memoir, How Not to Break Your Leg: A Fiftysomething’s Guide to Healing, is my best-selling book!

Has it sold a million? No. A thousand? No. A hundred? No, but for me, it is my best-seller, at a whopping 24 copies in three and a half years of publication.

I am celebrating, and wanted to share my joy.

I hope you have joyful publishing stories too.

Maybe they outdistance mine, but any win like that is something to celebrate.

Fun Song for Your Morning Wake Up

(this is a paean, not a parody!)

Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

(posting this song while watching the amazing Simu Liu in a compelling film about the making of the great marvel movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; this song is not meant to take Asian American culture to a time when it might have been caricatured, but rather, to a cultural retrospective and an endearing bit of fun; if you haven’t seen Shang-Chi, also with Awkwafina, Michelle Yeo, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Ben Kingsley, you are missing out!)

Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening
But they fought with expert timing

There were funky China men from funky Chinatown
They were chopping them up, they were chopping them down
It’s an ancient Chinese art, and everybody knew their part
From a feint into a slip and a kicking from the hip

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (hey, yeah)
But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billy Chin, and little Sammy Chung
He said, “Here comes the big boss, let’s get it on”
We took a bow and made a stand, started swaying with the hand
A sudden motion made me skip, now we’re into a brand-new trip

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning (ha!)
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (huh!)
But they did it with expert timing (ha!)

Oh, yeah
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho, ha) keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on
Sure enough

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning (ha!)
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (huh!)
Make sure you have expert timing, oh (ha!)

Kung Fu fighting
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) hands and feet fast as lightning
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh! Ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh! Ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh!
Keep on, keep on, keep on (ha!)
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh!
Yeah, yeah (ha!)
(Oh-ho-ho-ho)

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Hands and feet fast as lightning

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Carl Douglas

Kung Fu Fighting lyrics © Bucks Music Group Ltd., Smv Schacht Musikverlage Gmbh & Co. Kg, Edition Carren

Tightening Things Up

I have chronic kidney disease.

Some years back, I was diagnosed with stage 3B kidney disease. My GFR was in the low 30’s. GFR is glomerular filtration rate, and is the main indicator of kidney function.

The GFR slid downward rapidly, from normal sixtyish to not so good thirties, and I was diagnosed and referred to a nephrologist (kidney specialist).

My GFR had hovered in the 23-24 range for 2-3 years, possibly due to diet and the wonder drug Jardiance. You may have seen the somewhat obnoxious ads for this medicine, and while I used to loathe such ads, I am so grateful for their intercession that I sometimes even sing the cheesy jingles.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been lax about my diet, avoiding added salt, using small amounts of milk and cheese, watching my potassium, phosphate, sodium and sugar, but eating outside my diet at times and drinking many safe drinks but perhaps too much of them.

This weekend, I got my GFR tested and it was 22. One point down is huge, and not in a good way. I don’t want to go on dialysis or to need transplant, nor to die just yet.

So today, when our pizza arrived, my wife got me a salad, so I only ate two slices and half the salad. Portions are key with CKD.

I decided yesterday to mostly drink water as my wife has long exhorted me. I’ll still have bit of hot and iced tea, but am going to limit my beverages to 6-8 glasses per day, overall, and I had an artificially sweetened seltzer with dinner (tastes like soda), and some tea, but drank mostly water otherwise, and am monitoring my fluid quantities.

The Jardiance has been doing its job, so now I’ll see if diet and my normal moderate exercise will win the day.

I know my life on this earth is limited, as it is for all of us, but I want to do my best to care for the body the Lord has given me and to be successful in achieving the things he has for me to do.

I want to enjoy my food, and am blessed that the things I ate this weekend were delicious. God makes things taste better when I am obedient to His Word.

God is so good.

Featured image (not above) courtesy of Pexels.com

A Sus Ordenes

I am very quick to understand certain things like many words and numbers, but VERY slow to understand others.

At 16 my IQ tested out at 150, but I was 40 years old before I realized the knots in plywood were from branches on a tree, LOL!

When I submit a book to a literary agent, I figure they might like my book, possibly, maybe. I suppose that if the writing is good enough, they’ll consider representing me.

But I only very recently realized the (obvious) similarity between literary agents and those browsing for books to read:

If I am looking for something new to read, I scan the library or bookseller’s shelves quickly, only slowing down for things I know are in my wheelhouse.

And my wheelhouse is very specific.

So if I want to sell an agent on my book, I might have to write something I’d want to read. That may sound embarrassingly obvious, but there it is. I just figured it out.

If you are writing a book, it’s good to write what you know and to write what is on your mind, but if you are trying to get a book traditionally published or widely read, you might have to write with your own pickiness in mind.

Capitán obvia, a sus ordenes (Captain Obvious, at your service)

Song of the Week

Charity Gayle – I Speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
‘Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus, oh (oh)

Shout Jesus from the mountains
And Jesus in the streets (oh)
Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus (Jesus)

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Your name is power (Your name is power)
Your name is healing (Your name is healing)
Your name is life (You are my life)
Break every stronghold (break every stronghold)
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jesse Reeves / Dustin Smith / Abby Benton / Kristen Dutton / Carlene Prince / Raina Pratt

I Speak Jesus lyrics © Integrity’s Praise! Music, All Essential Music, Pt. Nadaku Musik, For Me And My House Songs