The World According to Glissando

Tag: bible

  • Not so Good Friday

    Yesterday, the day before Good Friday, I was picking up some groceries. As I came up to the clerk, we mutually knew each other very casually, I asked, “How are you doing today?” She factually stated, without complaining and with a smile on her face, that she had been busy all day non-stop. I told her, yes, I could understand that given it’s the day before the Good Friday holiday. Without bitterness she quietly told me that unfortunately she had to work the holiday tomorrow. I responded by saying that was not good.

    She quietly continued she would have rather not worked to commemorate this important Christian observance and besides, her late fifties body could have used the rest, as well. “We’re supposed to be a Christian country,” she added.

    I responded to her that we’re a somewhat Godless Christian country now, like so many other Christian countries around the world. Sadly, it’s all about making money now no matter what, especially in the retail world, and many consumers view it as just another holiday.

    I continued by telling her that in the Bible, it clearly and repeatedly states, in both the New and Old Testaments, that you not should profit when you lend money, yet here we are, a whole corrupt financial system built around the concept of making money, obscene amounts, by charging people interest on loans. I added that this system was transformed to prominence by so-called Christian countries.

    Continuing to look at each other in the eyes, she nodded affirmatively. I then told her I had much empathy for her, will think of her, and say a prayer for her. By her reaction, I knew this lifted her, if only for a moment. I then said goodbye and left with my groceries.

    You see, nothing should be open on Good Friday save for essential services. Retail and other sectors do not need to be open and people don’t have to shop on Good Friday. But in today’s world, money and convenience are the main characteristics of our society, not God, not Jesus. Money is overwhelmingly god now, along with no compassion, in a corrupt financial system designed by so-called Christians. For so many who shouldn’t have to work, it’s not so Good Friday.

  • Thoughts

    As a Christian, I have examined other religions. One of the fallacies about Muslims is that they want to kill all who do not convert to Muslimism. In fact, the Koran, just like the Bible, says yes, we should seek converts. However, neither sacred book says or even implies you should kill anyone who does not convert. Quite the contrary actually. This is a lie. Read it for yourself. Anyone who preaches death to those not wanting to convert is doing it for illegitimate humanly purposes. It’s a myth and misinformation propagated by people to justify behaviours, desires or tribalism.

    You see, the problem with religion is not religion, it’s the way human beings use it to justify their agendas, often agendas of hatred, avarice, or the seeking of power.

    The word homophobic is a misnomer. Just because someone disagrees with the gay lifestyle, it does not mean this disagreement is irrational. Remember though, Jesus commands us to love each other unconditionally. Yes, everyone.

    Our financial system is a lie manifested in human avarice. The Bible clearly states repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments that when people lend others money, there should be no financial gain for the lender. It’s unequivocal. It cannot be disputed or rationalized. Sadly and ironically, it is Christians who implemented our sham financial system for the most part. It is also anti-Biblical to make money without producing an actual physical product. Profit should not be made on the basis of sheer money manipulation. Again, read it for yourself.      

    Finally, when people disagree, there is no need for belligerence and hatred. Love one another and agree to disagree, then work together to find a resolution without war. But, this is not the character of human behaviour. We would rather fight and not just win, but humiliate the loser. History has repeatedly demonstrated in the end this type of resolution does not ultimately result in lasting peace, but quite the opposite. Why won’t we learn? We’re supposed to have conscious, thinking minds, but we so often use these thinking minds for destructive, evil purposes.      

  • Christian

    I call myself a “New Testament” Christian. What does that mean? The New Testament is the new covenant between God and people. The way to God is through Jesus. To me, first and foremost, Jesus is about unconditional love. The love of all people. Everyone, regardless of who it is. Everything flows from this love. You may not agree with someone or something, but you must look through the lens of Jesus and love and accept them.

    When some people hear you are a Christian, they often immediately slot you into a certain unfavourable, stereotypical category. However, this is just not true. As sure as people are different from one another, Christians are different from one another. You need to know the person to understand their perspective on Christianity and life.

    When I write songs about God and Jesus, my goal is often to talk about Jesus in today’s real world situations. Real life, not abstract concepts. I am hoping to show how His love and caring can provide tangible hope. I am not trying to tell you what to think. That’s up to you, as it should be. We all are free to believe as we do. “His Name is Jesus” is one of those songs. It talks about very real problems in today’s world and hopes to communicate that there is someone who cares. The lyrics follow. Thanks.        

    “His Name is Jesus”

    There’s a man with a handicap waiting for the bus
    We laugh at him or ignore him, he’s not like us
    And you ask, “Does anyone care?”

    There are people in this town homeless and abandoned
    We’re so busy with our lives, well we never imagined
    And you ask, “Does anyone care?”

    There’s got to be someone, someone who cares
    Someone who can change what’s going on out there
    There’s got to be someone who can undo what we’ve done
    There’s got to be someone, there’s got to be someone

    His name is Jesus

    There are people who live in terror each and every day
    Their government tortures and kills them for the things they say
    And you ask, “Does anyone care?”

    There are people who routinely kill for their cause
    They don’t have any regard for life or laws
    And you ask, “Does anyone care?”

    There’s got to be someone, someone who cares
    Someone who can change what’s going on out there
    There’s got to be someone who can undo what we’ve done
    There’s got to be someone, there’s got to be someone

    His name is Jesus

    Change is in the wind
    Time for a new start
    Change is in the wind
    Look for him in your heart

    There’s got to be someone, someone who cares
    Someone who can change what’s going on out there
    There’s got to be someone who can undo what we’ve done
    There’s got to be someone, there’s got to be someone

    His name is Jesus