51 Ways to Leave Your Lover

(Based on the song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon)

Just slip out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan

Don't need to be coy, Roy, just listen to me

Hop on the bus, Gus, don't need to discuss much

Just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free.
Click here to hear song,

 I can add to that list!!!:

Pick a fake reason, Blake, have a fight, Mike, then  

storm out the door, Norm, just can’t take it no more.

That’s the one I used when I was 20 and it worked to break us up!         

But boy was that ever one of the weakest and meanest things

I’ve ever done, Son.  I've regretted it for years, Sears.

I had to take it to the LORD, Cord, to release my guilt, Wilt.

So now I'm free, Lee, but free her too please, Louise.

Step on it! (Accelerate into love)

People fighting, hating and ignoring each other because they don't understand their purpose. They don't understand that the most important thing in the universe is loving others as you love yourself and of course, to love God too with all your heart. Hurry up and love somebody before it's too late for them or for you. If you’re 40 years old you now have about 50 years left. Then it will be 20 years, then 10 and finally just 1 year left in either your life or theirs.  Time always speeds up on us and soon you'll be wondering where the time went.  So let’s beat the clock. Step on the gas, up the wattage, push it and accelerate into love!

Then you'll be transformed into the person you've always wanted to be and you won't miss your old ways. There's still time left but it’s going really fast, so accelerate into love!

A little worry (Is A Dangerous Thing)

We're all familiar with the term addiction. It calls to mind the people who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and even food and there are others. I've just heard that worry is a hidden addiction which happens to be the most prevalent addiction in the world! This addiction to worry idea caught my attention because I believe that I worry too much.  Could it be that I have this hidden addiction to worry?  An addiction as you know, is a habitual and compulsive behavior that keeps us in captivity, in a kind of self made bondage. In some but not in all cases, pleasure is the mechanism for addictions.  First your drug of choice gives you pleasure, then it pulls the rug out from under you and gives you misery instead. But doesn’t excessive worrying do the same thing? Everyone worries a little in order to figure out solutions to problems. However if you develop a habit of thinking you’re in control, that habit can become worse and turn into a fully grown addiction. First you think you're in control and that feels good, but then the rug gets pulled out and you end up consumed by worry and miserable just like with other addictions. The bible in Philippians 4:4-9 offers worriers a solution of peace instead of panic. If you want to know more about this addiction click here to hear an illuminating message.

A Criminal Life

Is it a crime... to still love you? Sade wanted to know. Is it a crime to be Black...is it? Is it a crime to be poor in a wealthy land? Is it a crime to be ordinary and not handsome or beautiful? Is it a crime to be an introvert or shy? Is it a crime to be different from you...is it? But Jesus said: "I love you ALL," then he paid the ultimate price for his crime and ours, didn't he?

Wingman Wanted

I’m married now for years and plan to stay that way but nevertheless, I could sure use a Wingman right now. The traditional military definition of a "Wingman," refers to the pattern in which military jet fighters or other aircraft fly together. There is always a lead aircraft while another one flies to it's right (off it's right wing) and a little behind it. The pilot of the second aircraft is called the "Wingman" because he or she is there to protect the lead aircraft's "Six" that is to say, to watch his back against enemy fighters. 

In a social situation such as in a bar, a Wingman’s job is to team up with the lead guy to hopefully score a relationship with women. On the TV show, How I Met Your Mother, Ted was Barney’s Wingman. In the classic movies Top Gun, Goose was Maverick’s Wingman and as some know, Cameron was Ferris Bueller’s Wingman in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  A good Wingman in action, will sometimes run interference with the girlfriend of the young woman the lead guy sets his sights on. Or possibly, the Wingman  might go after the girlfriend for himself.  Typically in bar situations; we find the Wingman raucously laughing at his friend’s bad jokes and by the way, the Wingman's friend is responsible for buying the drinks. He’d better buy, his Wingman is after all working very hard to watch his back.  In addition to all of this,  a wise Wingman should also take care  to not let his friend get too out of control.

   

In this present day I no longer need a social Wingman nor do I function as one. What I do need however, is a buddy who will help me get to heaven. A spiritual man who knows and understands me and who hopefully, also laughs at my bad jokes. I need help with so many things -like staying pure, staying humble, being forgiving and remaining focused on God and being obedient to Him. Ideally, my spiritual Wingman should also relate to me by having one or more common interests with me. By the way, I do recognize that I already have another type of spiritual friend known as a Guardian Angel, with real wings! In the past my Guardian Angel did some heavy lifting for me and helped me to survive some pretty hairy situations. Yet, I still need a human Wingman made of flesh and blood like me. Someone who can talk with me,  tell me what’s going on and who will listen to my cares, concerns and my confessions.

So Señor, I am now taking applications for the position of my Wingman to watch my back and of course I'll watch your back too. Good references are required.  

Sparkling in The Sand

                                                                                                       

Dear Lord hear my prayer:

Please don’t let another miss out on you, or they will surely die -spiritually. The jewel that is our salvation lies sparkling in the sands of time.  Some seek this jewel, others are drawn to it and others like myself just happened by and saw a glint of light in the sand. While stopping to examine what caught my eye, I discovered your priceless jewel of salvation and this changed me forever. I'm just an ordinary man but I invite all passers-by to stop, look and examine this treasure for yourselves. Meet me at church so we can share with each other what the Lord has done for us! Or we can share what we hope the Lord will do for us!  

Click on this link for the location of Southwest Region of my Church Fellowship. I am THERE every Sunday when I'm in town. 

The Love Music Series

The following letter is an edited version of the liner notes from my very first Love Music Tape. There are a total of five tapes  in the series. The cover art is also reproduced above.

August 11, 1993

To whom it may concern:

PLEASE PLAY THE TAPE WHILE READING THIS LETTER

I would like to share with you a collection of music from late 1968 through the seventies decade that defies all conventional classifications. The usual clichéd, pigeon holed and pigeon dropped classifications such as Oldies but Goodies, Old Gold, The Classics, Blasts from the Past, Greatest Hits of the blah, blah, blah are all much too stale, dull and let's just face it; outrageously boring and that is a crime!

            When I was sixteen I simply referred to these beautiful and sensuous love ballads –a la falsetto as “LOVE MUSIC.” I think “Love Music” is still a very fitting name to classify this music since the overwhelming theme in most if not all of this music is love lost and love found. The Delfonics and the Stylistics were two favorites of mine but there were many others some of whom also appear on the enclosed tape.

           There is not one song on this Love Music collection that doesn’t feature me on it. Picture me if you will, as the lead singer for each group and wearing some fine funky threads, singing pretty, moving fluidly to the music, in step, on time and in the groove!!! Have mercy, listen to me now! (I also do the background singing and choreograph all of the dance moves).

            The most important thing about this love music was the voice it gave to the passionate heart beating within the breast of a young brother and to all lovers everywhere. And yes there was that time long ago, when my heart was broken -yet the band played on. Doggone it! I could still hear the band playing and singing even as my love boat sank beneath the ocean waves.  

            Moving on with my life and moving to Houston in 79 was an epic happening for me.  That's when and where I met my wife for the first time and I fell in love with her at first sight. (I Never Knew Love Before Her!) I just knew at once that she was the one I had been singing my love songs to; ALL along! I felt it deep within on a spiritual level, that I had just met my Soul Mate. 

           Director's Cut Notes: This whole tape flows with the emotional Ups and Downs of Love. Marilyn McCoos' 'One Less Bell to Answer,' an incredibly moving heartbreak song; is answered immediately with Eddie Holman's heartfelt song 'Hey There Lonely Girl' and on and on as the love tape goes slowly around in your cassette deck.

              Very sincerely and lovingly yours, 

              Joseph

The Playlist: Love Music 1. (Originally released on cassette tape in 1993)

**Feel free to sample the tunes that are highlighted below by clicking on them.

1. La La Means I love you – The Delfonics
2. Break your promise –The Delfonics
3. Didn’t blow your mind this time – The Delfonics
4. Trying to make a fool of me – The Delfonics
5. Baby, I’m for real –The Originals
6. The Bells –The Originals
7. You’ll never get to heaven –The Stylistics
8. You’re as right as rain –The Stylistics
9. You make me feel brand new –The Stylistics
10. Break up to make up –The Stylistics
11. Always together –The Dells
12. I can sing a rainbow –The Dells
13. Rainy night in Georgia –Brook Benton
14. Going in Circles –The Friends of Distinction
15. One Less Bell to Answer –The Fifth Dimension
16. Hey there lonely girl – Eddie Holman
17. Let’s stay together –Al Green
18. Ooh Baby Baby-The Five Stairsteps
19. O-Oh- Child –The Five Stairsteps