Cocaine Blues by Johnny Cash
Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
I went right home and I went to bed
I stuck that lovin' 44 beneath my head
Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun
took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run but I run too slow
they overtook me down in Juarez Mexico
Late in the hot joints takin' the pills
in walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty heck that shot your woman down
Said yes oh yes my name is Willy Lee
if you've got the warrant just aread it to me
Shot her down because she made me sore
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more
When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they took me back
Had no friend for to go my bail
they slapped my dried up carcass in that country jail
Early next mornin' bout a half past nine
I spied the sheriff coming down the line
Ah and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said come on you dirty heck into that district court
Into the courtroom my trial began
where I was handled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out
I saw the little judge commence to look about
In about five minutes in walked the man
holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read in the first degree
I hollered Lowdy Lowdy have a mercy on me
The judge he smiled as he picked up his ben
99 years in the Folsom pen
99 years underneath that ground
I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down
Come on you've gotta listen unto me
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie; cocaine.
You gota love old country music.
Go and see Walk the Line – friggin' awesome acting.
I wrote a comment on
Palmer's journal about protesting Walmart and the likes. Read with me wont you.
Palmer,I think you are on to something here that points to the very core of our being. Protesting, fighting the man, pointing out the flaws in our society in order to show just how better we really are. The church originally had no power save that of Jesus our King and what a power they had. They didn't bother themselves with what was specifically wrong with the current times (their times were much harder than ours) they were concentrating on Father and surviving persecution. So what's my point? What do our brothers and sisters in India do with their off times from being chased by murderers? What cause do you think we should be fighting? Walmart, the big man, or perhaps we should be concentrating our efforts on freeing our far away families? And what about those who are starving in Africa? The AIDS patients who die a painful death being rejected by all? Our current Christian culture has it all wrong. We are distracted by many things. Many churches have massive budgets that could feed 10 towns in Africa for many years. We are concentrated on what can we do with our tithing money in order that we can be the most comfortable.I'd say you ought to buy what you can afford in order to feed as many people at your house that you can. Where you buy is the same as praying to Jesus to help you decide where to buy lunch – McDonald's or Burger King. Jesus ate all the time with people and I think we should do the same. There is something beautiful about sharing a meal with friends/family and filthy strangers.
It bugs me that's why.
What would the world be like if the credit for curing cancer (a very prominent subject on my mind) was given to the church in Las Vegas? How much of an impact would be given if the church in Phoenix curred AIDS? What would we see if Africa's hunger pains were permanently cured by the church in America (not the government)? Would it go unnoticed? Would the church get more recognition for helping to solve the world's problems or do their massively huge buildings and multi million dollar budgets do more for them? Yes the Catholic church has helped many but what about the Roman one that has it's own zip code and streets that are damn near paved with gold? I had always heard that Jesus told us to help widows and orphans, the sick and helpless, those that society hides. So just who are we helping? How often do you find yourself sitting in a pew next to a stinky person that doesn't belong there. Just how well do they fit in our church of America? How well do you fit in with them? I'll be honest, when I have had the money to tithe I rarely did. Why? I couldn't stomach seeing the money being spent on me.
I have a lot of respect for some pastors. Some of my closest friends are pastors and have a heart of gold. And while I hold them in the highest regard, they don't always have something so profound to say that it requires them to stand on stage and speak about it for 30-45 minutes every week. What about other people in the crowd that Father has touched?
I am intrigued about the Crusades. Christians against Islam. Bloody swords on both sides not once abiding by the very thing of which they fought for. I am slightly uneducated about the whole thing to be truthful but I'm not sure if our current struggles in the world's society are any different. What if we (the church) dropped the whole political movement and only followed our Master? What would life look like then? Would America be any different? How would society view us? Would there be as many of us? Would there be any persecution? Frankly, I think we could use a little bit of persecution. Sick, I know. But I wonder just how sharp be could be in that situation?
I'm sure I sound like a little bratty teenager who wants to cause trouble for no reason but just how comfortable are you sitting in the pew listening about a poor, rebellious, homeless, teacher who loved those who were hated. So much so that he was slaughtered for it. He has risen, My King has risen indeed.
Cancer
My least favorite word.
I have been telling myself that we will wait for the testing on mom (Tera's mom) before I let my emotions get ahead of me. Apparently I haven't been listening. My eyes are watering on a consistent basis. My hope is staggering and my heart is breaking.
This isn't supposed to happen to her. This isn't supposed to happen to our family. We have seen so much pain and heartache and have dealt with it very well I might add, but when the backbone of our family becomes ill it is more than i can bear. She has been there for all of us through our joys and disappointments. Through births, weddings, Easter, Christmas, Sunday afternoon BBQ's, family pissin' matches and everything between – she has has a profound impact on me, my family and everyone she touches.
I want so badly for her to see the family that my sons and daughter will have. I want to see her crying as i look over to her during our daughter's wedding. I want to wipe the lipstick off my cheek from her kiss as i show her my grandkids. I want to hear her advise even when I don't want it because i am so stubborn. Dammit! NO!!! This screws up all of my plans.
While I know that I still have a lot to learn about life and about my Father, this isn't a lesson I want yet. I admire her so much and I feel that I still have so much to learn from her. Her gentle ways of approaching things. Her unique ability to turn some lousy convenient store dough nuts into a treasured snack when they arrived in Vegas. Her pure passion for kids – which taught me to treasure them as well, prior to having kids of my own. Her creativity. And lest I forget her love of kitchen appliances.
Pray for her. If I were to witness my first miracle I'd like it to be now. Pray for our family.
