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*dedicated to Alesana, Heavy Hangs the Albatross
http://youtu.be/uxEg_L4avfU
* dedicated to Whitney
"For better or even for worse, remember me forever"
-----------------------/(Gentiles): Setting Sail For Cyprus
Whitney, when I first knew your eyes, like
really became acquainted with your eyes,
(in 2013 at Massanutten),
it was like the ground quaking in Damascus. I became blind
to everything I thought I knew before. The ennui,
the melancholy, the dull drab and dreary listlessness
I used to see in every aspect of my life disappeared,
and with it my old identity without your imprint on my heart;
its like knowing you instantaneously changed everything about me,
from Saul the morose I became Paul the vivacious,
your curly hair, bright smile, and contagious laughter as peals of thunder
and a blaring divine voice in my ear. This beauty was my Gospel-
and I would have given my life to share the Good News:
the 195 lashes of criticism I received, 39 minus one
five different times from my own Jewish people,
for writing "Whitney’s Warrior,"
memories of it like being beaten three times with a rod,
my shipwrecked emotions when you branded me as disillusioned...
a day and night in deep waters of early martyrdom
for the girl of my dreams. But you see,
underpinning every thread sewn in the tapestry of our
brief relationship was Barnabas,
a sort of philosophical kindred spirit, assumed as
a trusted friend that shook hands with me on
our tacitly shared affinity. The bonfires, Luray Caverns forays,
the hiking we did in concert with our friends
getting to know each other better,
that time on the couch our legs inadvertently touched
due to our close proximity
- all those miracles performed before the Massanutten gentiles-
I guess meant nothing to you. Our last group meal back in Arlington
was like a formal entreaty before the surrounding pagans-
we spoke as a group on the ethics of peoples in dating relationships:
that I should date Josie, that I shouldn’t wait for a soul mate,
and to observe the usual axiomatic DC relational mores:
abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,
from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
As we left to go home, however, I saw “John Mark” in your
face, that inner conviction that chides
one for moving too fast in a relationship, a conviction
that has since abandoned me in my old age.
Where was John Mark when I was in Pamphylia,
my early to mid-twenties, like you? I want to love you now
I want to court you now… that is my conviction, my “Silas,”
but on this issue we couldn't have been further apart.
That was the last time I saw you in person, some time ago.
I want to let you know, however,
over the years nothing has changed-
I will keep writing poems to you here in Syria and Cilicia,
while you keep running away to Cyprus.
--------------------Acts 15
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
“‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
things known from long ago.
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches
------Heavy Hangs the Albatross Lyrics
I've made up my mind and I will be leaving.
Leaving this cruel, dark world
for the soulless to share.
But first...
Women will shriek and watch their husbands bleed.
Children will cry (children will cry)
and watch their mothers die.
Because tonight (because tonight)
Tonight we all go to hell!
Why?
I have to let go of what happened to my love.
I am taking out on everyone else
all the problems I've brought on myself.
When I made your heart melt.
My belle, we soon will meet again.
There's nothing left for me to lose
Except confusion.
I'm finished trying to tell myself this will go away.
There's no one left to talk me down.
My feet are slipping...
One day oh I hope my name doesn't bring back memories.
Of the day that I left her.
Goodbye, so long.
My heart belongs to the one I am chasing after.
For better, or even for worse,
Remember me forever...
Now the only question left is how
to take you all down with me.
The coroner will have his hands full tonight.
That is if he is not among the dead.
Dead will choke the streets with such vulgarity that grown men will weep.
And then you will find the end is drawing night.
There's nothing left for me to lose
Except confusion.
I'm finished trying to tell myself this will go away.
There's no one left to talk me down.
My feet are slipping...
One day oh I hope my name doesn't bring back memories.
Of the day that I left her.
Goodbye, so long.
My heart belongs to the one I am chasing after.
For better, or even for worse,
Remember me...
The dizziness stuns me,
Would someone please distract me?
Can I really get through this?
Can I really betray myself?
For better, for worse, remember forever
(There's sweat on my hands and a knife at my throat.)
The dizziness stuns me,
Would someone please distract me?
(And as the blade bites my skin Annabel appears...)
Can I really get through this?
Can I really betray myself?
For better, for worse, remember forever
(For better, or for worse, remember me forever)
One day oh I hope my name doesn't bring back memories.
Of the day that I left her.
Goodbye, so long.
My heart belongs to the one I am chasing after.
For better, or even for worse,
Remember me forever
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