In Spirit and Truth

"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” - John 4:24

Everyone has their favorite worship songs, right? They are songs that strike a particular "chord" in our hearts, and we can actually get quite emotional singing them.

There are the old standards like Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art. But there are also newer songs that can hold a special meaning as well. Today's story is about one of those songs.

I was playing this song the other day on YouTube. The thing about YouTube is that once you click on one of their videos their algorithm pummels you with the same songs over and over again. That can get quite annoying. However, that is not true for this song that is currently stuck in my head, and in my heart - Is He Worthy? by Andrew Peterson.

The reason it has so much meaning to me, I believe, is because nearly all of its lyrics are scripture. The whole thing is pretty much Bible verses. The chorus for example:

Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?

Is anyone able to break, the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah, who conquered the grave

He is David's root and the Lamb

Who died to ransom the slave

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” - Revelation 4:11

"And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”" - Revelation 5:2

"Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”" - Revelation 5:5

These things that John saw were all very emotional to him, the writer of Revelation, saying:

"I wept and wept." - Revelation 5:4

It is also quite emotional to Andrew Peterson, the writer of today's song. Near the end of the video he gets choked up and can't finish one of his own lines.

Another thing I love about this particular version of the song is the way that it is constructed, with a choir answering every question that is posed to it. That choir will be you and me one day. And we won't need read sheet music either. We will know every word by heart.

"And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne." - Revelation 2:3

So, is Jesus worthy? Oh, yeah.

He is!!

Is He Worthy - Andrew Peterson 

Chippy!

Boy, it was cold in the house this morning! I checked my weather app - 37 bloody degrees! Yikes!! Winter is approaching. The cold air is just a sign of the times.

Here's another sign that winter is approaching. Chippies! They are running everywhere - digging up holes in our yard, searching for food that they can store up for the cold months ahead when their food will be scarce.

They also like to sit on our wood pile and "chip" at anything that moves - a shadow, the neighborhood cat, my wife, etc. They're just trying to warn other chipmunks of impending danger. Nothing wrong with that.

Speaking of impending danger, we have an election coming up. Each of the two candidates says the other is dangerous. Regardless, one of the two will win and we are stuck with them for four years. That's true.

I saw a video this week that listed the top ten Dollar Store things you should have on hand should things go bad. Here they are, just in case your candidate loses.

1. Matches / lighters
2. Candles
3. Band aides
4. Water
5. Chlorox disinfectant 
6. Ramen noodles
7. Batteries
8. Ibuprofen 
9. Flushable moist wipes
10. Tooth paste / brush combo 
11. Ziploc bags

I guess that's 11. Somebody can't count and it's probably me. Those are good items to have but the Bible has a better list, and it's short. One item, and His name is Jesus.

When times get tough, Jesus is the one thing you NEED to have. Why? Well, He doesn't take up any storage space, He's free, and with Jesus in your heart, you can live forever!

The Bible says that things will get bad before Jesus returns. It looks like that's happening right now. Don't get caught without your name in the Book of Life when He returns. That would be extremely bad.

"Anyone whose name is not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:15

You do NOT want to go there!

Heed the example of the chipmunk. Store up Jesus in your heart while you still can. If Jesus is Lord of your life, you WILL be saved. If He is not, well, you read the verse.

Here's better verse:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

A New Heart

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26

I'm not really sure where to begin today's story. Perhaps by rewinding to 2008 - (sixteen years ago? That long??). I had just volunteered to be a youth leader at church.

Kortney was just "one of the kids" in the youth group back then. We met a few times at Dairy Queen to talk, but our conversations weren't as weighty then as they are today.

These days we talk about transplants and tests, families and bucket lists.

I thank God for our renewed friendship, but always in the background is the thought that our future conversations may be few. So I make a point to be positive and funny while also being encouraging and empathetic at the same time. 

There are currently 103,223 people on the National Organ Donation Waiting List. 3,436 of those are waiting for a heart to become available. 943 are waiting for a lung, or two.

My friend recently completed five LONG days of testing at UW - Madison's hospital. She is now on the official waiting list. Can you imagine what that must be like? I can't.

What is the Christian response in situations like this? Prayer, of course. But James tells us that "faith without works is dead." So, what can we do?

My Wisconsin driver's license has a little star on it in the lower right corner. That means that I checked a box on an application at some point. It also means that I am an organ donor. Are you one? If not, please consider it. 17 people die each day, waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

But what else can be done? Hmm. That's a tough one but here it is. Talk to people about Jesus. It's a critical conversation to have when someone is facing an unknown future.

Another thing you can do is to pray WITH them. Let people hear your words. Ask if you can pray for them, then do it. Right then and there.

The thing we need to remember that anyone who is struggling just needs to know that they are loved and that someone cares. It's sounds simple but it requires being open and vulnerable.

Just look at the world we live in. Pain and suffering seem to be everywhere. It's almost like the world needs a giant heart transplant, right? And only God can do that.

Love, pray, act, repeat.

The Devoted Things

Shortly after Moses died, Joshua was charged with bringing God's people into the Promised Land. There's a major lesson to be learned in this.

God's people had just taken Jericho according to God's command. The walls came tumbling down and God brought about a great victory. However, not everyone obeyed what they had been told NOT to do. Joshua told them this:

"The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord." - Johsua 6:17

That seems pretty clear. And then Joshua emphasized this in the next verse too.

"But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it." - Joshua 6:18

Again, that's pretty clear. And note the word 'trouble.'

"But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel." - Joshua 7:1

Uh-oh. That's not good.

[Side note: Achan's name literally means 'trouble' in Hebrew.]

So, the Israelites were feeling pretty confident after taking down Jericho. TOO confident. They attacked the next town without consulting The Lord and were routed.

THEN Joshua talked to God to find out what was wrong and God let him know. They soon figured out it was Achan and confronted him. Achan was then stoned to death and the devoted things were burned. Yikes!

This story begs the question, "What are OUR devoted things?" And do we have anything in our possession from other religions or beliefs? What are WE devoted to? Let's think about it.

Do we have a yoga mat? Maybe you think I'm "stretching things" a bit too far but yoga is a religious practice. Let's look it up.

Traditional yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as practiced by the Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions.

Are you or your kids dressing up for Halloween? What as? Or do you like Taylor Swift? Lots of people do. Read this from an article in the Christian Post about Taylor Swift:

"As Christians, who are filled with the Spirit, should we be entertained by, sing with, and expose our kids to lyrics that aren't just different than what you believe, but are actually mocking what you believe?"

Look what's covering Taylor's costume in the picture above. Hmm. Looks like a bunch of . . . SERPENTS. Or am I wrong?

Are we devoted to God? Or are we devoted to the world we live in and the things in it?

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Taylor Swift - The Christian Post

Something's Missing

My wife and I recently attended a special Grandparent's celebration at our grandson's school. It was wonderful!

Our grandson came and sat with us in the bleachers and we listened to a pastor present the Gospel. That too was wonderful.

We heard about how we are all sinners.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23

Then we heard that Jesus died for our sins, once for all.

"He (Jesus) sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself." - Hebrews 7:27

More wonderfulness. But it seemed as though something was missing.

I went back over what we taught children at VBS this past summer - Repent, Believe, Forever Receive. Again, that's all good, but there's still something missing. What is it?

Jesus summed it up in one single question. It's a question we ALL must answer.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

We can believe in God (even the demons believe) but if we are not changed by that belief, our faith is useless, as James says:

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." - James 2:24

Works do not save us. Works are EVIDENCE that we have been saved. If the Good News of Jesus' death, resurrection, and life does not change us, our faith is meaningless. We are still dead in our sins.

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

And there it is. That's what was missing. Not only must we 'believe,' we must be changed! Jesus MUST be our Lord! He must be in our heart.

What all of that means is, we must do what He says. We must love our neighbor. We must love God. We must not lie. We must not covet. The list goes on. But here's the thing . . .

Example: Why do so many Christians celebrate Halloween? The holiday started out with good intentions (remembering the dead), but it has been perverted by "the world" into something totally different.

Example: Why do those who profess faith in Christ support those who want to kill their own babies? This is an abomination to The Lord!

Jesus MUST be Lord of our lives or we simply will not be saved. We must DO what God commands us to do. Study the Bible. What are God's commands? Are we doing them?

We've got an election coming up. Do any of the candidates profess faith? Do they back what they say with their actions? Or is their faith dead?

Our remaining time here on earth is short. Make the change. Serve the Lord.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God." - 1 Corinthians 6:19:20

Jesus Is Lord - Voddie Baucham

Hurt People

We all have been hurt at somepoint on our lives. Why do people do that? We love these people and suddenly we find them hurting us. Why?

My wife and I went to a Sidewalk Prophets concert a few weeks ago. They were debuting one of their new songs - "Hurt People." The song implies that people who have been hurt in their lives are the ones who in turn hurt others.

Hurt people hurt people,

Broken hearts break hearts

If true, that's something we need to remember the next time someone breaks OUR hearts or hurts US in some way.

Lashing out at someone in response to their lashing out at us is no way to act for the Christian. Yet there is still a strong desire to lash out, indicating that we ourselves are far from perfect. So, what do we do?

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:44-45

That's Jesus speaking. He's telling us to love and to pray. It's that simple.

And just to drive Jesus' words home, that Sidewalk Prophets song ends with this line:

But love will heal our hearts.

It really is that simple. Love others enough to take them to God in prayer.

Here's an idea. Let us take the first line of the song and change it up a bit.

Loved people love people.

God loves you and God loves your enemies too, wishing that none would perish. So, what are we waiting for?

Love! Pray! Repeat!

Hurt People - Sidewalk Prophets 

The Dividing Line

You cannot see it, but it is there. It separates us, divides us, as surely as if it were an impenetrable wall of stone. It pits one side against another. What is it?

Look at this verse from the Apostle Paul. Can you see just what it is that divides us?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The line that divides is "the message of the cross" - Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus, and "the message of the cross," divides those who are perishing from those who are being saved. 

But Jesus is the Prince of Peace. How can He divide us? Let's ask Him and see what He says.

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” - Luke 12:51-53

That sounds like a battle to me and not peace. And indeed, it IS a battle.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12

It is a spiritual battle. And it is being waged right now!

And finally, these words from Pink Floyd's Division Bell album - sung perhaps by someone on the other side of the divide:

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition

There's a hunger still unsatisfied

Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon

Though down this road we've been so many times

The grass was greener

The light was brighter

The taste was sweeter

The nights of wonder

With friends surrounded

The dawn mist glowing

The water flowing

The endless river

Forever and ever

High Hopes - Pink Floyd

Pros and Cons

Prefixes can be confusing sometimes. For example, the prefix "anti" means to be 'against' something, right? Anti-freeze, anti-vax, Anti-Christ. But that standard does not always hold true. I'll explain.

The prefix 'pro' means you are for something, like pro-life, 'con' means you are against something, like CONtraception.

A few weeks ago our pastor gave these last two prefixes a slightly different, and opposite, meaning in his sermon.

PROfess - "to declare in words or appearances only."

CONfess - "to acknowledge to God."

A "profession of faith" is different from our "confession of sin." Even though they mighty seen similar, they are both really quite different.

For example: a man can profess to be a woman. He can wear women's clothing, get hormone treatments, and be surgically altered to 'appear' like a woman. But his DNA says he is still a man. His profession is a lie. 

Similarly, and this is how our pastor used the 'profess' side, someone can profess their faith in Jesus. Even though they might not live it out in their lives. They too are lying.

"They claim to know God but by their own actions they deny Him." - Titus 1:16

Now, on the opposite side of things, to confess one's sins against God is actually a good thing. It is an admission of guilt against a Holy God. It is the fourth stop on the Romans Road.

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9

It is better to confess than profess. Confession is acknowledging a truth. Profession can be a lie.

We've all seen the political ads on television lately. Tell me, are they professing things, or confessing?

Professing a faith in Jesus is meaningless if it is not coupled with our actions.

"For as the body apart from the Spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." - James 2:26

There is a line from a Sidewalk Prophets song that asks the question, "Is there evidence that I've been changed?" That's the test right there that each of the 'professors' must pass.

James and Paul recognized 'false converts' way back in their day. They still exist in our world today.

It is my opinion that none of the apostles truly believed until they encountered the resurrected Jesus. Everyone one of them abandoned Jesus when He was arrested.

We must not merely profess our faith in Christ, we must make a full confession of our sinful nature and live a life relecting that faith every day of our lives. We must not only SAY we are Christians, we must LIVE like it.

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

One Minute After

When the rapture occurs, what will be happening here on earth . . . one . . . minute . . . after?

For those left behind there will initially be massive confusion. Millions of people just vanished! Where did they go? Christian drivers on the freeways are suddenly not in their cars (which are doing 80mph+ around Chicago). That will be a mess. Planes falling from the skies because some planes have Christian pilots flying them. Or did. That's scary stuff.

But a prominent world leader will come on the scene. He will somehow make sense of everything. He will comfort the people and they will trust him. But really he will bring about a great deception upon the people and it will be all downhill from there.

Some however will realize the truth, that they have been 'left behind' and that their Christian family members and friends have been caught up to be with Jesus. Oh, the sadness and remorse that will overcome them will be huge.

They will realize then that what those 'annoying Christians' had tried to tell them about Jesus was actually true. I would hate to be them when they figure THAT out.

When Jesus returns for us, we will not be the first to meet Jesus. Those believers who have died before us get that honor.

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" - 1 Thessalonians 4:16

THAT will be interesting to see. But then . . .

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Think about that. We will forever be with the Lord!

And that's where we will see Jesus. In the air! It says so right there in verse 17!

What then? Do we just float there in the clouds? No. But we will be Jesus. Forever. Maybe this will help answer the question.

"He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children." - Revelation 21:5-7

We will receive all this . . . "one minute after."

Who Is Your Master?

"They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity - for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning." - 2 Peter 2:19-20

There are two kinds of slaves - willing and unwilling. You and I as Christians submit willingly to our master, Jesus/God. We do, or should do, everything He commands us to do. That's a tough one for many people. Even for those who believe. But that must be our desire. We are willing slaves.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I say?" - Like 6:46

There are also unwilling slaves. We fought the Civil War to free unwilling slaves. Most were captured, against their will, and sold into slavery. There are still unwilling slaves in the world today.

Today's picture is of some present day slaves over in China making clothes you and I to wear. They are Uighurs. Have we looked into where we buy things? Probably not. Are we then unknowingly supporting slavery? Probably.

Go back to what Peter said. "People are slaves to whatever has mastered them." What masters slave owners? Money. Power. Self.

What does Jesus command us to be? In the Book of Matthew He tells us that "the greatest in His Kingdom will be the servant of all."

"The greatest among you shall be your servant." - Matthew 23:11

Paul warns us against the love of money saying "it is the root of all evil."

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:10

A willing slave will do whatever his master tells him to do. Do WE do that? We say 'yes' but do we really? Do we 'love our enemies?' Or do we kill them? Do we claim faith in Christ yet vote for people who support the killing of babies? Do we skip worshipping God so we can set up our tailgate party at Lambeau?

Bob Dylan wrote, "It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."

Who do I serve? Is it my bank account? Is it my job? Is it my own selfish desires? Or is it God?

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15

Joshua had it figured out.

The Oil and The Wine

"When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” - Revelation 6:5-6

Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages? That's one day's worth of food for working all day. And you thought inflation was bad now!

The cost of barley is not much cheaper during the Tribulation. But then a voice calls out. Is it Jesus? The Voice says "don't damage the oil and the wine."

It sounds like the guy on the black horse is going to wreak havoc on the wheat and barley crops. In other words, there is going to be a famine.

But what if these two verses are not only about WHAT is going to happen, but also WHEN they will happen.

When is the barley harvest in Israel? Do you know? It's at the end of March (between the Passover and Pentecost).

As a side note, the timing of the barley harvest gives great insight to the story of Ruth and Boaz.

"Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor." - Ruth 3:2

That's the barley harvest! Now we know that it was likely March and a little chilly. Now it makes more sense when Ruth says, "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian -redeemer of our family.” Ruth was cold! Boaz was wearing a coat!

And what about the wheat harvest. When is that? It is between Pentecost and Tu'B'Av or the 15th of Av - a Jewish holiday commemorating love. Av is the 5th month on the Hebrew calendar. Basically, it lasts through the end of August.

"And the love of many shall grow cold." - Matthew 24:12, Jesus

When is the grape harvest in Israel? It lasts from the end of the wheat harvest until Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). That day is October 11-12 of 2024

"The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel." - Isaiah 5:7

And the olive harvest? October - November.

The voice in the midst of the four creatures from Revelation 6 said, "don't damage the oil and the wine." So, whatever the Black Horse and its rider are going to do, it will stop in the fall. By the Day of Atonement.

What's so special about the day of Atonement? It is the highest holy day on the Jewish calendar. In the Old Testament the "high priest" made an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. That sounds like what Jesus did for us, doesn't it? Yom Kippur is the final day of judgment when each person's fate is sealed by God for the upcoming year.

The final day of judgement. Hmm. That's 19 days from today!

Just a few things to consider as we see the day approaching. Is Jesus your Lord?

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:23-25

Either Way

"Suffering purifies what we really believe about God." - Janet Parshall

Pain and Suffering are great teachers. And life-lessons often get taught in the most painful situations.

As I was driving home from the dentist (Speaking of pain! Lol!) I turned on the radio and listened to a talk show about dealing with grief. The guest was the author of a book entitled Either Way, We'll Be All Right.

The book was a "diary" about the author and his wife as they processed her cancer diagnosis and ultimate death.

What I found most refreshing was the way that this couple's faith was interwoven with every thought and decision they made along the way about a seemingly unknown future.

The amazing thing about Christianity, and an active faith in the heart of the true believer, is that "the future" is already known and embraced.

'Death is a part of life' they say, but it is often a sad part. Remember Lazarus? Remember all of the mourners and Lazarus's two sisters? Even Jesus wept upon seeing their pain.

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” He asked." - John 11:32-34

Jesus knew that Lazarus would live again. And so it will be with ALL who believe. But Jesus was filled with compassion and mercy for those who were grieving.

The real key in dealing with pain and suffering is Jesus. He has already removed the 'pain and suffering' from our future by dying for our sins on the cross. He can also ease our present woes by taking their weight off our shoulders.

To ease our present burdens, we must pray. But that is only step one. The second thing required of us is to trust. Without our trusting in Jesus, what good are our prayers?

"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” He said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." - Matthew 14:25-32

Peter's doubt caused him to sink. Jesus said his sinking was due to Peter's lack of faith.

Are we totally and completely trusting in Jesus with our fear and pain and prayers? Or are we sinking?

Peter THOUGHT he believed but later he denied Jesus three times to protect his own life. Do we truly believe? Even when things don't go as we had hoped?

Either way, we must trust in God.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Either Way, We'll Be All Right Book