Rick Derringer: "It's Raining"

This American guitarist had a few minor hits in the seventies. this album track is about a couple sheltering from a hurricane. Check it out here.

Whenever we end up unable to leave home, like we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, we can use the Apostle Paul's idea to make the best of it. During Paul's frequent imprisonments, he used his down time to write letters. 

In Philippians 1:12-14, he noted that his jail time was in some ways advantageous. The Bible in Basic English renders it this way.

"Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ; And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear."

When Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave, he made the best of that bad situation too. Genesis 39:5 and 6 (BBE) tells us, "And from the time when he made him overseer and gave him control of all his property, the blessing of the Lord was with the Egyptian, because of Joseph; the blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and in the field. And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him.

And when Potiphar's wife got Joseph in trouble for not having an affair with him, Genesis 40:21-23 (BBE) tells us of yet another betrayal. "And he put the chief wine-servant back in his old place; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. But the chief bread-maker was put to death by hanging, as Joseph had said. But the wine-servant did not keep Joseph in mind or give a thought to him.

Now some folks will say that this was long ago. But Jesus promised he'd be with his people always. John 14:18 (BBE) reads, "I will not let you be without a friend: I am coming to you."

One advantage we modern-day Christians have is the Internet. Through it, we can hear and see one another. It's nowhere as nice as meeting in person but it's better than the isolation experienced by biblical heroes.

Georg Katzer: "Aide Memoir"

This is a sound collage which the German government sponsored as a remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the rise of the Third Reich. Instead of making it a chronological telling of the events, Georg Katzer designed it like seven nightmares in which the sleeper is restless.

You don't need to understand German to feel how purely evil the Nazi era was. Listen to this piece, if you dare, here.

No matter how wicked rulers can be, God can make good come out of it. Christianity began spreading under severe persecution but the Lord used it for good purposes. Thanks to the persecution Paul experienced, the gospel infiltrated into the highest levels of the Roman government.

As we read in Philippians 1:12-14 (Bible in Basic English), "Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ; And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear.

This is the reason Paul and other first century saints faced the brunt of Roman and Jewish persecution. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:17 and 18 (BBE), "For our present trouble, which is only for a short time, is working out for us a much greater weight of glory; While our minds are not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are for a time; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

If we are punished by governments for worshipping Christ, let's remember Colossians 3:2 and 3 (BBE). "Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth. For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God."

If our beloved Master hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to publish about the impossibility of ending war in this age.

Johnny Nash: "There Are More Questions Than Answers"

This reggae artist was one of only a few who had hits in North America in the late sixties and early seventies. During those years, listeners were thirsty for new sounds and styles. As a consequence, it allowed this Caribbean artist to be heard along with folk rock, soul, and other highbred's of popular music.

Check out Johnny Nash's song here:


If people would just consult Holy Scripture, all their life questions would be answered. For example, people often question why they or their friends must suffer. They wonder why the Lord seems to have let them down.

Job certainly wondered aloud about why God appeared to be punishing and attacking him. Job 38:1-3 (Bible in Basic English) gives the answer to him and us. "And the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,' Who is this who makes the purpose of God dark by words without knowledge? Get your strength together like a man of war; I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.'"

God then spoke for three chapters, showing Job how foolish and puny he was compared to him. The last chapter shows how Job and his "miserable comforters" erred. They didn't have the advantage of knowing God's purpose for Job's suffering as we do.

Persecution, in particular, is used by Christ to perform his will. We read Paul's understanding of it in Philippians 1:12-14 (BBE) where he wrote to that congregation from a filthy prison cell. "Now it is my purpose to make clear to you, brothers, that the cause of the good news has been helped by my experiences; So that it became clear through all the Praetorium, and to all the rest, that I was a prisoner on account of Christ; And most of the brothers in the Lord, taking heart because of my chains, are all the stronger to give the word of God without fear."

The Bible says much about wisdom. In fact, James 1:5(BBE) encourages us to pray for it. "But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him." This applies to women too.

If our hope for Christ's return hasn't been fulfilled by Thursday, I hope to post about racial tensions in the U.S.A.