Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Preach the Gospel

As 2021 draws to a close we approach the end of a second year of the Pandemic. We are also entering another election year as a divided and polarized Nation. The Church needs to remember that none of this has anything to do with the Gospel. I believe that taking part in the political process by voting and having respectful, civil discussions is our right but that has nothing to do with the Gospel either.

Micah Bales, who is the pastor at Friends Church Berkeley in California said the following after the 2020 election:

"Our allegiance is not to the rulers and parties and causes of this age. We are the sons and daughters of God. We are brothers and sisters by adoption to our precious, crucified savior, Jesus. Our calling and mission is to do the works that Jesus did, as he empowers us by the Holy Spirit: Heal the sick, raise the dead, liberate the captive, and speak good news to the poor."

You can follow Micah over on his blog at MicahBales.com and you can find his complete sermon here The Kingdom of God Was Never on the Ballot.

 

And He [Jesus] was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.

And when He had opened the book,

He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

(Luke 4:18-19)

 Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Sunday, December 05, 2021

Rock Mass 12-05-2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass for December 5, 2021

 


 




Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 
 
 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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Sunday, November 07, 2021

Rock Mass November 7, 2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass for November 7, 2021 - End of Daylight Saving Time Edition

 






Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17


Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 
 
 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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Sunday, October 03, 2021

Rock Mass October 3, 2021

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month


Rock Mass for Sunday October 3, 2021

Art Renyolds Singers 1966

The Byrd's 1969

The Doobie Brothers 1972

DC Talk 1992


“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God."  ~Jesus (Luke 12:8)

So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.   ~Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 12:3)


Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 
 
 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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Sunday, September 05, 2021

Rock Mass 09-05-2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month


Rock Mass for Sunday September 5, 2021

 

 
 


 
 


Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1John 4:7&8)

If anyone says, "I love God", yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
(1John 4:20&21)

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(Matthew 22:36-40)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-JESUS
(John 13:34&35)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22&23)


Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 
 
 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

After Twenty Years of War, What If?

After 20 years of military intervention in Afghanistan we go home.

What if we had never sent our military into a no win situation and tried something like diplomacy, aid, and international cooperation?

I wonder if after 20 years of diplomacy and international cooperation the result would have been better? Who knows. And if not, what if we left with things as they are today, what would the down side be compared to 20 years of war? No casualties? Less dollars wasted?

Maybe non-military intervention could have worked better, but we may never know because the military industrial complex can't make a profit on peaceful solutions.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" ~Jesus

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Sunday, August 01, 2021

Rock Mass 08-01-2021 - Woodstock Edition

 

Rock Mass Woodstock Edition

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.


Rock Mass for Sunday August 1, 2021

Woodstock Edition

“It was about spirituality, about love,
about sharing, about helping each other,
living in peace and harmony.”
 ~Richie Havens, the opening performer at Woodstock 1969

In August 1969 the Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, NY with over half a million people in attendance. In the midst of all the self indulgent sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll the Gospel could be found at Woodstock.

Hippie Sunday School Bus at Woodstock, August 1969
Nun flashing Peace Sign at Woodstock, August 1969



"Well, I came upon a child of God he was walking along the road..."




"I had a dream last night, what a lovely dream it was, I dreamed we all were alright..."




"I got a telephone in my bosom and I can call him up from heart..."




"There's always a little bit of heaven in a disaster area." Wavy Gravy (Hugh Romney)




"God bless you"




"Oh happy day, When Jesus washed, He washed my sins away"




"...Any day now, any day now I shall be released"




"...
Following you I climb the mountains I get excitement at your feet"



"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound..."



 

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 

(Originally posted 08-05-2018, revised 08-04-2019)


The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance the understanding of religion and spirituality in society. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
 

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Another 584 Million Miles Around The Sun


I just completed another lap around the sun and I'm still hanging on for dear life.

I haven't traveled much but I have covered nearly 38 billion miles circling the sun in my lifetime.

On a larger scale, since my birth our solar system has traveled over 292 billion miles around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.

I should be eligible for some serious airline perks by now but all I seem to be getting are more aches and pains. Well, today I woke up on the sunny side of the lawn again and any day that you wake up on the sunny side of the lawn is a good day!

 

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" ~Jesus

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)


Map segment retrieved from the Library of Congress at: Map of the square and stationary earth

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Sunday, July 04, 2021

Rock Mass 07-04-2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month


Rock Mass for Sunday July 4, 2021

 





“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." ~Jesus (Matthew 23:23-28)
 ~
"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?'" ~Saint Stephen (Acts 7:48-50)
 ~
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" ~The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:16)
 ~
“The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ because the Kingdom of God is within you.” ~Jesus (Luke 14:20-21)
 ~
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ~Saint Peter (1 Peter 2:9-10)


 
Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

Sunday, June 06, 2021

Rock Mass 06-06-2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass for June 6, 2021

 


 

 



LOVE
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1John 4:7&8)

If anyone says, "I love God", yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
(1John 4:20&21)

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(Matthew 22:36-40)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-JESUS (John 13:34&35)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22&23)



Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)




The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".


(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)


Fair Use Notice



Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Sunday, May 02, 2021

Rock Mass - 05-02-2021

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass for May 2, 2021

 

 
 








"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.

This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.

This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."

~Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890 - 1969



"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called the children of God."
~Jesus (Matthew 5:9)


"...Seek peace and pursue it!"
Psalm 34:14


 

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)




The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".


(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)


Fair Use Notice