Weird Al: "Virus Alert"

Can a singer make a career out of singing novelty songs? Mr. Yankovic did. Many times, he took songs and changed the lyrics. At other times, he made up songs in the style of the bands and artists he spoofed. Listen to this example of his hilarity here.

Sin is like that tempting e-mail attachment. Scammers know they can't infiltrate your system unless you click on their attachment or link.

In the same way, Satan couldn't force Eve to sin. Genesis 3:6 (Bible in Basic English) shows that sin is voluntary. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and gave it to her husband."

And like the man in the song, we must forward the warning of sin's danger to everybody.  As God explained in Ezekiel 3:18 and 19 (BBE), When I say to the evil-doer, Death will certainly be your fate; and you give him no word of it and say nothing to make clear to the evil-doer the danger of his evil way, so that he may be safe; that same evil man will come to death in his evil-doing; but I will make you responsible for his blood. But if you give the evil-doer word of his danger, and he is not turned from his sin or from his evil way, death will overtake him in his evil-doing; but your life will be safe."

Additionally, we're required to, as the end of the song says, "Hit SEND right now." Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 6:1 and 2 (BBE) that, "We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose. (For he says, 'I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation):'"

We also know that computer viruses must be quarantined and destroyed. Likewise, James 4:7 (BBE) explains, "For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you."

If our commanding officer hasn't returned to put the world right by Saturday, I hope my post about contentment with our possessions will make readers think.

Daryl Hall and John Oates: "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"

This early-eighties hit by Hall and Oates is about a woman who wants her boyfriend's soul but like he said in the song, he couldn't "go" for that. Listen to this song here:

In our Christian lives, there are things we also won't allow. Sin is the chief no-no we struggle against.

Paul certainly knew the pull of the tempter. In Romans 7:14 (Bible in Basic English), he told his readers how the law alerts the flesh to sin. "For we are conscious that the law is of the spirit; but I am of the flesh, given into the power of sin. And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do."

In humility, we are able to fend off the temptation to compromise our beliefs for a little pleasure. James 4:7 (BBE) reminds us, "For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you."

And even if we suffer for doing what's right instead of taking advantage of a sinful situation, we can be pleased to suffer for righteousness' sake. Joseph's imprisonment on a false charge of sexual molestation is a case in point.

Genesis 39:17-20 (BBE) shows how Potiphar's cheating wife blamed Joseph for not lying with her. "Then she gave him the same story, saying, 'The Hebrew servant whom you have taken into our house came in to make sport of me; And when I gave a loud cry he went running out without his coat.' And hearing his wife's account of what his servant had done, he became very angry. And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, in the place where the king's prisoners were kept in chains, and he was there in the prison-house."

Just as Joseph was compensated for his suffering later on, so we will be blessed if we hold to the truth.

If Christ hasn't returned by Thursday, I'll post about how things in the world never seem to change.