Wishing All a Happy & Blessed Easter 2017 from Scared Monkeys: HE IS RISEN. TRULY, HE IS RISEN

MAY EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER …

He is risen, truly, He is risen. Scared Monkeys wishes  everyone the happiest of Easters! Please remember that Easter represents the true meaning of hope eternal and the rebirth of our Lord Jesus Christ as he died and rose again. As you have your Easter egg hunts, open your Easter baskets and enjoy Easter dinner, please remember that the resurrection of our Lord provides us with eternal hope and rebirth.

One of my favorite songs of all times …

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Luke 24:1-6

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

I have not always been the biggest fan of contemporary Christian music, as I am a fan of the hymns, except when it comes to Michael W. Smith. Having seen him live, it is a truly amazing and spiritual experience.

ABOVE ALL – Michael W. Smith

Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.
I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.
And I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.
No I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you’re my God,
You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.
So Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you’re my God,

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2017 … One Day We “Will One Day Live in a Nation Where They Will Not Be Judged by the Color of their Skin but by the Content of their Character”

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY – 2017 … Because in the end, it is all about character.

On this January 16th, 2017, we once again join together as a nation and honor the message and the man, Martin Luther King Jr.  We look back and reflect on “The Dream.”  We have come a long way as a people and a  nation since the 1960′s. However, that is not to say we don’t still have a ways to go. I personally make it a point every MLK day to listen to the words of the slain Civil Rights leader and his “I Have a Dream” speech and reflect on what it means and where we are today with that dream. Today, we are a much better country and closer to Martin Luther King Jr’s dream. The United States of America has come a long way; however, the mission is not over. “The Dream” is much like being a Christian or life in general. You don’t just all of a sudden say, okay, I have reached my goal and nothing more is needed. People are not perfect, they never will be. We strive to be good and follow Christian values. That does not mean we do not fail or fall short. Have we come a long way, yes. However, does that mean we have much more to do and always will.

“I Have A Dream Speech” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The greatness of MLK Jr’s message is that it is for all people, not just one to blacks and another to whites. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and it was one of inclusion that we “will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character”. Do not let any one else try and interpret that dream for you. And do not let those, who may have marched with MLK back in the day, play partisan party politics today and deviate from the Dream. Never let those with an agenda that is so far from “The Dream” to make you feel less or call you something that you are not. Sadly, to witness today’s so-called Civil Rights activists is to see an agenda more about race hustling and division, and a political ideology than they are about “The Dream”.  Martin Luther King Jr. was correct, it is never about the color of one’s skin, it is always about the content of one’s character. Always! Do not ever forget, it is always about character.

“I’ve Been To The Mountaintop.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a dream that “The Dream” of Martin Luther King Jr. will be championed by real Civil Rights activists and not high-jacked by those for their own self-serving purposes and agenda and try to divide us as a country. To do so, to race-bait and to divide America whether you be a common American citizen, a pastor, a politician or a president does a disservice to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his “DREAM.” How I wish there was a true Martin Luther King Jr. alive today to champion the cause. We are closer than you think America, don’t let those that would divide us be victorious.

Full text of MLK Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech:

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

[...]

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S 2017 From SCARED MONKEYS … Wishing All a Happy, Safe and Joyous 2017!!!

Scared Monkeys would like to wish all a HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2017!!!

We are wishing everyone a healthy, joyous, prosperous and successful New Year.  As we look back over this past year and remember it with fondness and sorrow, to the happiness we experienced and the sorrow for those we those lost. We look to the future and the new year in 2017. May you all have a safe and blessed New Year!

Bringing back memories of New Year’s eve past with Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians. Long before there was the dearly departed Dick Clark and his New Year’s “rockin” Eve, there were these classics.

 Auld Lang Syne – Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here’s a hand, my trusty friend
And gie’s a hand o’ thine
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Guy Lombardo’s Final New Year’s Eve Appearance – New Year’s Eve. 1976-1977

My how the dropping of the New Year’s ball in New York City Time Square has changed over the many years from the 1970′s to present day. From a ball to an apple to the present day ball.

NYC Time Square Ball Drop 1976-2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016 FROM SCARED MONKEYS … JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME … “A Savior has Been Born to You”

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016 …. JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME!!!

On this most joyous of special days we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and to ask all to always remember the true reason for the season. As you are unwrapping presents, partaking in some eggnog, spending time with family, friends and loved ones, having your holiday feast and experiencing the joy of this day, always keep in mind the true reason for the season because  on this joyous day …  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

May everyone have a joyous and blessed day!!!

Joy to the World – Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Luke 2:10-16:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

O Holy Night – Charlotte Church

Angels We Have Heard On High – Andrea Bocelli & David Foster

Away In A Manger – Nat King Cole

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Jewel

Silent Night – Bing Crosby

Some of My Favorite Christmas Songs … What are Yours? (VIDEO)

Just a couple of the non-traditional Christmas songs I love to listen to during the holidays, what are yours? Love, just love the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you have never had a chance to see them live, please do so. Okay, I know White Christmas is not non-traditional … I just love it!!!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon

Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo

Snoopy’s Christmas vs. The Red Baron – The Royal Guardsmen

Bing Crosby – White Christmas