Patti Lynn Clark Barnett

No one but God knows when Jesus will return to this world. However, many Christians believe we are living in the end times. We are admonished to observe the signs of the times and not be caught unawares. And we are also advised not to be taken in by false prophets. There have always been those who are willing to exploit the biblically ignorant and gullible segments of society. And they have predicted specific dates for the “Second Coming of Christ”. These predictions by false prophets, in themselves, fulfill Biblical prophecy.

For the Christian, it is of little consequence when this event occurs. The sooner the better. We are to be ready at all times. However, for the unprepared non-believer, it will not be a pretty picture:

Mathew 24:29-30
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mathew 24:50-51
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

To me, Jesus’ descriptions truly do indicate a, “Mighty Power Awakening”.

Mighty Power Awakening
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE

We’re looking around us
And wondering just how much longer
This old world’s going to stand
Be ready and get dressed
In the robe of his righteousness
If He said it, He’ll do it
And you know He’s promised
That He’s coming again

Chorus:

There’s gonna be a mighty power awakening
There’s gonna be a shaking by the great I AM.
There’s got to be a change in the hearts of the people
There’s got to be a cleansing by the blood of the Lamb.

The making of more laws
And building more prisons
Will never be able to fix what is wrong
Been comin’ a long time
Down the spiral of decline
Don’t you think it’s about time
He’s comin’ and a takin’ his children away?

This song is based on the Old Testament (Daniel 3) account of the deliverance of the three Hebrew children and was written with young people in mind. However, adults will be inclined to get off the couch and dance as well…I hope. It’s my answer to the rap tripe the kids listen to religiously on a continuous basis. I believe we would see an enormous change in the world at large if parents took the time to encourage their children to read these Bible stories. They are faith building, courage inspiring, exciting and entertaining. And I don’t believe Harry Potter could hold a candle to the fascination and amazing feats found in these miraculous accounts.

Shadrack, Mesheck and Abednego
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE
 
Shadrack, Mesheck and Abednego
Three Hebrew children from long ago
Got thrown in a furnace
Because of the way they believed
King Nebuchadnezzar didn’t like the way
They wouldn’t bow to his god and pray
So he said, “I’ll bring the three
Hebrews to their knees”
 
Shadrack, Mesheck and Abednego
Said “Oh, king, this much we do know
Our God is able to deliver us out of the flames
But if he chooses to let us burn
We still wouldn’t bow to your idol and turn
From the one true God Jehovah is His name”
 
This made King Nebuchadnezzar mad
So he called his servants together and said,
“Stoke the fire in the furnace
Seven times hotter than it is now.”
And when they threw the three men in
They fell back and died from the heat within
But the three Hebrews were saved
‘Cause they didn’t bow
 
Chorus:
 
Soon there was a fourth man too
Walking in the flames with the three Hebrews
King Nebuchadnezzar looked in and thought it was odd
Four men unharmed and walking in there
No smoke or singe on their clothes or hair
King Nebuchadnezzar that day knew the living God

Rarely do we experience those indelible moments in time that leave us dumb struck. But that’s just what happened to me when I saw this scene near Philadelphia. The carousel was large and loaded with an ethnic mix of beautiful children of all ages. The joyous harmony and peals of laughter emanating from this circle of life at its fullest was exhilarating indeed! It was enough to quicken the heart, brighten the mind with fresh perspective and make one wonder why we even have to grow up at all. I hope I have captured, in some part, the essence of the “Down Town Merry-Go-Round”
 

Downtown Merry-Go-Round             
Digital Music File 

I was on my way to my car when I heard
A musical sound that gently stirred
My heart with delight and I wanted to go
Right back there to where
That wonderful sound was coming from
So I took myself back to where I found
A sparkling load of laughing cargo going ’round
 
I stood and I stared in a trance like gaze
Too long since I’d been this amazed
I felt just like a little kid again
It was studded with mirrors and little brass rings
Over rainbow critters wearing beautiful things
Like a yellow bow tie
On the swan with the lavender wings

Chorus:

Up and down ’round and ’round
Went the young and old on the merry-go -round
The black and white, the Chinese child
A journey in harmony a little while
The world seemed like such a perfect place
Sun light bouncing off every face
As they traveled together
On the down town merry-go round
 
There was an elephant, a tiger,
A donkey and a deer
A polka dotted pig and a butter colored bear
Pastel horses wearing silver bells
A circle of laughter on the carousel
Pride was a poppin’
From the biggest to the least
A bobbin’ up and down on their beautiful beasts
As they traveled together
On the down town merry-go- round
 
Then it struck me clear as a bell
Why, life’s just like a carousel
Together we’re going ’round and ’round
‘Till one day the ride slows down
For the commoner, the king, the priest, the clown
A turn in time will come around
And we all step down
From the earth bound merry-go-round