Brendan Shea's Blog, page 5

I support Israel… and the Palestinians in Gaza

I am a Christian, and I know Israel is God’s chosen nation. There are no other nations like that of the nation of Jacob’s descendants.

But should the crimes of Hamas be taken out on innocents in Gaza?

I am reading of how God had the Israelites drive out the sinful tribes to give them the promised land, and how those nations slain, were made up of very wicked people.

But does that mean the people of Gaza are akin to the people of Hamas?

I don’t know, but I think there must be a better way to get at Hamas. They are the ones who terrorized the Israelites.

God, please show me how to think and feel about this.

If it is possible, please have mercy on the people of Gaza, and please punish Hamas, if that is in your plan.

I am also worthy of death, and were it not for the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, I would be dead or as good as dead.

We lay our prayers at your feet, Holy Lord, and we intercede for the people of Gaza; if it is your will, please have mercy on them.

Everyone should watch this

I can’t tell you why…

Something is happening with our culture… pic.twitter.com/vNMCoNndwB

— Brenden Dilley (@WarlordDilley) July 5, 2025

Bonus Song!

Free at Last – dc Talk

Young people
Welcome to the… heaven… … and ministry tonight
Won’t you please turn in your hymnals to page 333
Sister Mildred, we’re gonna play free at last
Free at last, thank God almighty

Free at last, free at last
I thank God I’m free at last
Free at last, free at last
I thank God I’m free at last

Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free at last
Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free

Cause I’m free, free at last
And I’m free, from my past, and I’m free
Free from sin, and I’m free
And I ain’t going back again

Shackles had me down but He gave me a new sound
So reclaim my name from the lost and found
Ya see, something’s got me jumpin’
And I think it’s the way
That He can take a hard man
And turn him into soft clay
Out of the darkness, the Father has sparked this
The spirit’s alive while the flesh is a carcass
If you’re seriously curious about my past
Well I once was lost but I’m free at last!

Oppression was in session and my life was the term
But when I heard about the Word I was willing to learn
About a flavor I could savor and a brighter tomorrow
Cause this could never be endeavored by a wish on a star
The Father first receives us, the Truth then frees us
Forgiven, now I’m living like a man full of Jesus
It was hell until I fell upon my knees and prayed
But now the yoke that I was totin’ has been taken away

Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free at last
Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free

Cause I’m free, free at last, free
From my past, free from sin, and I’m free
And down on my knees when my life passed me by
And I ain’t, no I ain’t going back again

F R to the E E
L A to the S T
Out of the darkness, the Father has sparked this
The spirit’s alive while the flesh is a carcass
If you’re seriously curious about my past
Well I was once lost but I’m free at last

I’m here to tell you what he did for me and
I’m here to tell you that he set me free and
I know that He can do the same for you, too
He did it, I’m wit it, so come and get it
Be free at last!

Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free at last
Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free

Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free at last
Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free

When all of God’s children: black men and white men,
Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics
Will be able to join hands and
Sing in the words of the old negro spiritual…

Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free at last
Free, free, I’m free at last
Thank God Almighty I’m free

Cause I’m free, free at last, cause I’m free
I’m free, I’m free, I’m free, I’m free, I’m free
Down on my knees when my life passed me by
And I ain’t, no I ain’t going back again
Thank God I’m free

Free at last, free at last
Thank God almighty we are free at last!

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Joseph Randolph Hogue Jr. / Toby Mckeehan

Free at Last lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

Song of the Week

I will be here – Steven Curtis Chapman

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the sun does not appear
I, I will be here

If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand, and have no fear
Cause I, I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind,
I will listen and
I will be here when the laughter turns to cryin’
Through the winning, losing and tryin’
We’ll be together ’cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up,
And the future is unclear
I I will be here
As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I I will be here

I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder,
When the mirror tells us we’re older,
I will hold you and
I will be here to watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

I I will be here

And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetime’s are made for years
So, I I will be here we’ll be together

I will be here

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Steven Curtis Chapman

I Will Be Here lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

Bonus Song

Miles Davis – Cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time

Lying in my bed
I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after

Sometimes, you picture me
I’m walking too far ahead
You’re calling to me
I can’t hear what you’ve said
Then you say, “Go slow”
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you’re lost, you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time

If you’re lost, you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting (I will be waiting)
Time after time

After my picture fades
And darkness has turned to gray
Watching through windows
You’re wondering if I’m okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside (deep inside)
And the drum beats out of time

If you’re lost, you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time

If you’re lost, you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time

Time after time
I got a suitcase of memories
I almost left behind
Time after time
Time, time, time
You said (you said)
“Go slow”
But I fall behind (I fall behind)
Time and time and time
Time after time
Oh-oh

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Rob Hyman / Cyndi Lauper

Time After Time lyrics © Dub Notes, Concord Copyrights, Rellla Music Corp

California Academy of Sciences

We trekked last weekend to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, a fun and edifying destination.

I enjoyed the outstanding aquatic exhibition, which has some incredible tanks and displays comparable with some of the tanks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, though that facility is totally devoted to marine life.

We also toured the rain forest facility, which is accessed by an upward-ramped pathway circling the environment. There are beautiful trees, birds and butterflies, the latter fluttering freely around the area.

I was tired early on, so we had an early lunch at the cafe, which is cheaper than the pricey restaurant we enjoyed on our previous visit. I had cauliflower soup, with sunflower butter & jam sandwich and a fig bar with iced tea to drink.

I mentioned the cafe was cheaper, but I spent $37 for my lunch alone, and I imagine my wife’s lunch was around the same price. The bread for my sandwich was great, the fixins a little light and the soup was quite good. I felt I wanted something more substantive, but the quality and healthiness were exemplary.

The experience of the forest was great if somewhat tiring, not that it was boring, but the elevation and humidity slowed this 57 year old down considerably. I enjoyed it, nonetheless, and got some good photos of birds, butterfly that paused and a rare looking moth which posed for a portrait at its’ dinner table.

Following the forest, we sat in a play area outfitted with an animatronic dinosaur and other fun items. Children romped freely and looked to be enjoying themselves a lot. We got a rest in and headed over to the Planetarium for a show we’d reserved tickets for (included in the price of admission).

The show, Life: A Cosmic Story, was a disappointment to me. But I was not feeling great, so sitting back with a sore neck and watching life form at a cellular level was not great for me. I think part of that is on me, but the show was well-produced but not great.

I think what was lacking was not my physical discomfort or the visuals. The problem I had with it was that there was no wonder at what or whom had created our incredible universe.

I get that the place is not a Christian destination, but the variety of life that is represented there: the biology, animals, sea-life, plant life and other phenomenon, are so amazing and diverse, that I longed for someone to say, “WOW, God is incredible!!!“

But that moment never came, other than in my brain, at the point that it was so desperately needed by me in the planetarium. I will say that the staff and guests were outstanding; all being considerate and wondering at the beauty of our world, and the place was well-curated, attractive and pleasant.

Despite my misgivings, I would recommend this as a great destination for the whole family, and if you do go, don’t miss a visit to the living roof!

I think we are older and had physical fatigue at the time, so the lackluster review might partly be subjective and not the museum’s fault, but I do wish they’d look further than the awe of creation, to the wondrous Maker behind it.

A Message to the President

Dear President Trump,

I think solar is good for America.

Please consider keeping some of the solar and battery incentives along with the coal and other items.

Best and God bless,

Brendan Shea

Song of the Week

Geoff Moore & The Distance – House of Faith

House, house, house

There is a house
Not made of steel or stone
There is a house
Made of flesh and bone

Open to the hurting, open to the lost
Welcoming the rich and poor man
There is no charge
Love has paid the cost

Let the doors swing open
To the house of faith
Every tribe and nation
Every tongue and race

Under Jesus’ banner
Let us all embrace
There can be no labels in the house…
The house of faith

In this house
There are rooms for the confused
In this house
There are rooms for the abused

Places for the disillusioned
That once saw wrong as right
Hands to hold the weak and fallen
As we run towards redemption’s light

Let the doors swing open
To the house of faith
Every tribe and nation
Every tongue and race

Under Jesus’ banner
Let us all embrace
There can be no labels, no labels

Let the doors swing open
To the house of faith,
Every tribe and nation
Every tongue and race,

Under Jesus’ banner
Let us all embrace,
There can be no labels
In the house of faith.

House, bless you
House, house, bless you
House, house, bless you
House

Let the doors swing open
To the house of faith
Every tribe and nation
Every tongue and race

Under Jesus’ banner
Let us all embrace
There can be no labels, no labels

Let the doors swing open
To the house of faith
Every tribe and nation
Every tongue and race

Under Jesus’ banner
Let us all embrace
There can be no labels, no labels

Let the door swing open
In the house of faith
There can be no labels
In the house of faith

The doors stay open
In the house of faith
There can be no labels
No labels, no labels
In the house of faith
In the house of faith
(Fade)

Writers: Charlie Peacock, Geoff Moore

Publishers: Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

A Patch of Beauty

I like photographing flowers. Here are some of such I’ve taken for your enjoyment:

Song of the Week

You Put This Love in My Heart
Song by Keith Green ‧ 1977

I found it hard to believe
Someone like you cared for me
You put this love in my heart

I tried but could not refuse
You gave me no time to choose
You put this love in my heart

I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I’m depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it’s alright

I want to tell you right now
I’m not afraid to say how
You put this love in my heart

There are sometimes when I doubt
But you always find me out
You put this love in my heart

‘Cause when I see all that you’ve done for me
It’s hard to doubt, I just have to believe
‘Cause you follow up, provin’ all of your love

Well I know
The loneliness I had before
Is gone now
I’ll never feel it anymore
‘Cause your love has released me
From all that’s in my past
And I know I can believe you
When you say I’ll never be forsaken
Your love is gonna last

There’s so much more I should say
If I could just find a way
You put this love in my heart

Is all this real or a dream
I feel so good I could scream
You put this love in my heart

I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I’m depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it’s alright
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Keith Gordon Green

You Put This Love in My Heart lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC