The Revelation of Jesus, with Rick Sterling!

"My Favorite Things"!

"Raindrops on Roses, and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens . . .these are a few of MY FAVORITE THINGS." 

This song is one of the great songs from a wonderful 'musical' by Rogers and Hammerstein, The Sound of Music. It is best know as being sung by Julie Andrews in the movie, but it made it's first appearance on Broadway in 1956, sung by Mary Martin. 

In the play/movie the eight Von Trapp children become frightened by a violent thunderstorm, so they all migrate to Maria's bedroom where the want-to-be nun comforts them with this song. Maria gets the children to think about something other than the storm putting their minds in a different place, a place of sweetness and light in the midst of the storm. The storm rages on, but the children don't pay any attention to it because they are being entertained and comforted by someone that they know and love.

When our lives become frightening and difficult we all tend to seek comfort and distraction from something that is will make us feel as if everything will turn out well. This is also true in our spiritual lives. We want to not have to deal with the sometimes painful storms in our spiritual lives, so we train ourselves as Christians to seek to hide in the 'Rock of Ages', giving us an assurance of salvation in spite of our ongoing sinfullness. But in reality it is not Jesus that is singing us this comfort as Maria did for the children, it is 'substitute' singer that is singing a song that is bringing false comfort, that in the end will leave us victim to the storm.

Good feelings, great faith, and comforting belief in a salvation that is based in fantacy cannot overcome the spiritual storm that is bearing down on us. Only 'the Way, the Truth, and the Life' can bring us home safely.