As stated in my initial blog, I often withhold the Goodness and Mercy of God from my testimony within the social media. Certainly, I am not bragging about my ability to do so as it should be my second responsibility, only after stopping to give thanks to Him for all He does for me. As declared, 'better, must do, I.'
In a song that is sung in just about every [black, though there truly is no color] church known to man, a preacher made these words quite popular in 1989-1990 just before his transition to Heaven, "I won't complain." Most people of our time are familiar with Reverend Paul Jones' rendition of the song; even I felt the Spirit of God through the words of Jones' raspy yet melodic swooning voice.
I have found myself at one time or another belting out the same tune, but in a lie to listening parishioners. Of course my gospel swooning does not and likely never will match that of Reverend Jones, I will share with you in just my second blogging edition that I should have done my research and stuck with the original words of the song. What do you mean by, "the original words of the song?" I'll do my best to share the slightly different originating words, and the context of this blog.
I'm not so certain who the original lyricist is, but at least I can say that even though Reverend Jones made the song popular for my generation, there were at least three or four other preachers that sang, recorded, and perhaps re-penned this tune. Some of my GMWA friends will say that Minister V. Michael McKay wrote the song for Reverend Jones. I hadn't heard that until very recently, but with all of the great ministry songs V. Michael has written, I could easily believe he wrote the song!
Many of my Church of God in Christ (COGIC) friends will tell you about Bishop William Abney making the song popular, to which I can tell you that I have seen videos of Bishop Abney's version from the 70s-early 80s. Great job! Some of my older COGIC friends would say, Elder James Lenox was the original recording minister, but the song was titled, "God has been good to me." I've heard that rendition; great job!
But then my Apostolic friends would say, no it was, Reverend Donald Johnson in 1974 that originally authored the song but titled, "I Can't Complain." Reverend Johnson's version is more of a Country-Gospel genre with some different words, but within the same context; and that's where I am today.
If you are still reading and I haven't bored you to sleep, thanks for reading and I'll be short in my closing. For those that follow me on Facebook and Social Cam; Thanks, I guess?!? It seems that I have quite the following, even if a lot of people don't actually comment. (My wife, Little One, and I went to a wedding reception/birthday party this past weekend and found quite a few people that I/we have never met in person, nor had ever heard of. When introduced by the few people we did know, there were quite a few people that said something to the affect of, "Oh...I know you from Facebook. I enjoy reading and hearing about you guys." What? Are you kidding me? We are just everyday, common, wall flower type people.)
My A.D.D. almost got the best of me...causing me to go in another direction with my testimony. Nonetheless, we took advantage of some much needed time away. My eldest offsprings are doing their own thing now; college, work, etc, and our house is surely becoming an empty nest, so what better time to take advantage of getting away.
We had the great blessed opportunity to go on vacation in parts, I, II, and III this Summer. Don't worry, they were all within 300 miles of home, and literally were within a very modest budget of less than $1,000 for everything! This vacation was such a blessing to us to be able to get away with some of our best friends; we ate some of the best food; had great entertainment; bathed in the sun at great hotels; swam in great pools; and no sickness amongst any of us with the exception of hotel air flow and heat. We had some very close calls with the weather and driving, and even the weather and flying on one trip (did lightening just strike our airplane?)
When we returned home, there were some very real challenges in decisions made or being made by the elder kids of the family. I guess they all will have to experience life in their own way as we all have demanded as 18-21 year olds back in the day. Although our parents tried to tell us the pitfalls of life, most of us surely did not heed the warnings and messages and had to pay the piper on our own on many occasions. It wasn't until we were full grown adults that we understood what our parents were trying to tell us and keep us from. Heck, who hasn't said, "I wish I would have listened to mama (or daddy)!"
All in all, I'm thankful for my family; thankful for our home; thankful for our vocational employment; thankful for my friends that push me to push and encourage my children...and when I don't feel like it or have given up, those same friends pick up the phone and do it for me; thankful for my church family; thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
I'm thankful to have sang the words of Reverend Jones, "I won't complain;" I'm thankful to have sang the words of Elder Lenox, "God has been good to me;" but I am so thankful to God and will tell the world that, "I Can't Complain~"
No comments:
Post a Comment