Empty and Beautiful

I have listened to Matt Maher’s "Empty and Beautiful" and I was enraptured by the awesome beauty of the rhema of the Holy Spirit as expressed in his wonderful songs.



Matt Maher is going to join the Pope in the worship of our Almighty Father on Saturday as detailed in the following press release sent to me today.
16 Apr 2008 13:00 Africa/Lagos


Matt Maher to Perform During Pope's Visit to New York, on Saturday, April 19, 2008 Maher also to Perform during World Youth Day 2008, in Sydney, Australia; an Event that Will Mark Pope Benedict XVI's First Visit to Australia.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 16 /PRNewswire/ --

Singer/Songwriter/Worship Leader Matt Maher, who just released his Essential Records debut album, Empty & Beautiful (4/8/08), will perform when Pope Benedict XVI visits New York, on April 19. Maher, who is Catholic, will share his music in conjunction with the Pope's visit to St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., where the Pope will preside over a youth rally; encouraging youth to seek vocations within the church. Maher is no stranger to events involving the Pope. In 1999, when the Pope came to St. Louis, Mo., Maher performed as part of the visit.

"I am extremely humbled, excited and honored to be invited to be a part of this event," shares Maher. "I think this visit is a significant turning point for the life of the youth of our Church, and a chance for young people to connect with the vision of Christian life that the Holy Spirit is breathing through the pontificate of Benedict XVI."

Maher is still involved in local church ministry at St. Timothy Catholic Community, in Mesa, Ariz., as well as working closely with two national Catholic ministries, Life Teen, a worldwide Catholic youth ministry, and Adore Ministries, based out of Houma, La. With an incredible love for Jesus, and a heart to reach people for Christ, Maher seeks to meet people where they are.

In addition to being a part of the Pope's historic visit to the United States, Maher will play a major, musical role during the upcoming World Youth Day 2008 event in Sydney, Australia. This year marks the first visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Australia. In 2000, Matt played at an event with Life Teen in the Piazza D'Espana (The Spanish Steps) during World Youth Day in Rome. In 2002, Matt's "Litany of the Saints" was played at World Youth Day, in Toronto, Canada.

For a hi-res image of Matt Maher (photo credit, Micah Kandros), click: here

For additional information on Matt Maher, visit www.mattmahermusic.com Source: Essential Records CONTACT: For interviews or additional information: John Clore, Publicistfor Essential Records, +1-615-261-6361, john.clore@pmgsonybmg.com Web site: Matt Maher Essential Records

US: Judge Sets Bail At $275000 For American Mom Jailed After Trip To Nigeria

US: Judge Sets Bail At $275000 For American Mom Jailed After Trip To Nigeria

A judge Wednesday set bail at $275000 for a mother accused of abandoning her children to go to Nigeria to marry a man she'd never met in Nigeria.

Read more.

When I read the story, I simply recalled my article Why Do Fools Still Fall in Love?.

Why do fools still fall in love?

She must be a fool for love to have abandoned her 1-year-old baby and five other young children for a useless romantic trip to Nigeria to marry a Nigerian con man she had only met online. Oprah Winfrey would have called her another American “mugu” fooled by another Nigerian Internet scammer to abandon her six children in the US in a foolish quest for love in Nigeria.

Why do fools still fall in love?

Spare a Thought and Stay Alive

Since the weekend, I have been saddened by the bad news of a US Marine, Maria Lauterbach who was raped and when she reported the crime, the suspect was not arrested. He later murdered her, burnt her and buried her in a shallow grave. He fled before her corpse was found. Then, did you know of the lunatic Egyptian Muslim cab driver who murdered his two teenage daughters, Sarah and Amina Said on New Year’s Eve, because they were dating non-Muslims in Texas, US?

Honor Killings are common in Islamic countries, but for a Muslim immigrant to commit such a heinous crime in a civilized nation such as the United States, he must be a raving lunatic. This Fifty-year-old Yaser Abdel Said must be found and brought to justice.

The world would be a better and safer place without these lunatic fringe elements in our midst.

Recommended reading:


Click here to read more on Disorder in Court.

World AIDS Day: Red is the Colour of Love

DECEMBER 1ST IS WORLD AIDS DAY

Red is the colour of my heart

Red is the colour of my blood

Red is the colour of my roses

Red is the colour of my love for you

For red is the colour of love.

Just in time for World AIDS Day, (RED) is proud to announce that, thanks to your (RED) purchases, our partners' contributions to the Global Fund have reached over $50 million. (RED) funds are already at work as part of Global Fund grants in Rwanda, Swaziland and Ghana, funding programs with a primary focus on the health of women and children.

Calculate your personal (RED) impact
Learn more about how (RED) money is working in Africa

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Thanks to the Global Fund and (RED) money that you've helped generate with your (RED) purchase, an extremely effective medicine to treat HIV is becoming widely available to people in Africa. And it's as simple as two pills a day. It's so effective, in fact, it can return a person to vibrant health in about 60 days.
See the Lazarus Effect

CHOOSE (RED) FOR THE HOLIDAYS
When you shop (RED) for the holidays, you're not just giving to your friends and family -- you're also helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa with your purchases. Here's what's new:
Converse (PRODUCT) RED
Buy any pair of Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoes and a portion of the proceeds will go to The Global Fund, to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Get your Converse (PRODUCT) RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoes
See other CONVERSE (PRODUCT) RED
MAKE MINE RED: Design your own (PRODUCT) RED shoes

Gap (PRODUCT) RED
The Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection has something for everyone in your life, with new styles for men, women, kids and baby. New items include the (2 WEEKS) t-shirt, mittens, scarves, hats, sleepwear and the EcoTote.

Buy Gap (PRODUCT) RED online

Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED
For World AIDS Day, Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED has introduced its holiday flash collection, including a tuxedo, dress, and fragrances, as well as a pair of bracelets Julia Roberts designed for the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection.
Get your Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED bracelet
Shop the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection

Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED
The latest (RED) partner, Hallmark's (PRODUCT) RED collection includes an inspired line of cards, gifts, flowers and gift wrap, including the INSPI(RED) keepsake holiday ornament. For you early shoppers, Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED holiday boxed cards are now available online at HALLMARK.COM/RED.
See the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED collection

(PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPods
Give more than music. Choose (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod models and the iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card, and Apple gives a portion of the purchase price to fight AIDS in Africa.
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Motorola (PRODUCT) RED
Talk (RED) and fight AIDS in Africa with your Motorola (PRODUCT) RED phone, available in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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The Killers turn (RED) for Christmas
The Killers have turned their Christmas single "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (RED), with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Global Fund, for investment in African AIDS programs.

Watch The Killers' video on YouTube
Buy the single on iTunes now

Sacramento

Sacramento

You are still in my memories
Sacramento
I still recollect the colorful reveries
Sacramento
I remember the good old days
Sacramento
Before we went our separate ways
Sacramento
In the heat of the night
Sacramento
Serenading in the moonlight
You were one of a kind
Sacramento
Your smiling face still flashes on my mind
Sacramento
I remember your ringing laughter
Sacramento
Until the day of the disaster
Sacramento
I saw you drenched in the rain
Sacramento
And I never heard your laughter again.
Sacramento
Even if our dreams don’t come true
Sacramento
I will never forget you.
Sacramento.

N.B:
"Sacramento" is a love song I composed years ago and yet to record it. I have to sing it myself, because I don't think anyone can express the spirit of the song better than me.
The last song I recorded is "She Comes On Sundays", performed by a Nigerian R & B group. I have only given a copy of the CD to the BBC Radio, after the broadcast during an interview on my performance poetry in April 2003. I recorded my first song "Hardway To Broadway" in 1984. It was recorded in the US and it is available in the Library of Congress.

"Sacramento" tells a story of a very romantic and passionate love affair that was cut short after a tornado, but the memory continued to linger.