Steve Aves - My Thoughts #ThoughtsSteve Aves - My Thoughts #Thoughtshttps://www.steveaves.com/blogs/tag/thoughtsTue, 10 Mar 2026 00:54:10 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[A Love Supreme]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/a-love-supremeHaving that nice, big, album cover in my hands with the liner notes in a typeset size humans can read was a thrill.]]>

​​A Love Supreme, For Certain

On the eve of my 69th birthday, listened to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," the VINYL version.

Having that nice, big, album cover in my hands with the liner notes in a typeset size humans can read was a thrill.

Reading the notes and listening to the album reminded me why album covers with liner notes can be essential to understanding what the musician was trying to "say."

Try it for yourself. I've posted the album AND the two liner notes below.

Note 1

Note 2


​​DEAR LISTENER: ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD TO WHOM ALL PRAISE IS DUE

DEAR LISTENER: ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD TO WHOM ALL PRAISE IS DUE.  Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true; "seek and ye shall find." Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal.

During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.

As time and events moved on, a period of irresolution did prevail. I entered into a phase which was contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path; but thankfully, now and again through the unerring and merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been duly re-informed of His OMNIPOTENCE, and of our need for, and dependence on Him. At this time I would like to tell you that NO MATTER WHAT ... IT IS WITH GOD. HE IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS WAY IS IN LOVE, THROUGH WHICH WE ALL ARE. IT IS TRULY – A LOVE SUPREME – .

This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say "THANK YOU GOD" through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.

The music herein is presented in four parts. The first is entitled "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT", the second, "RESOLUTION", the third, "PURSUANCE", and the fourth and last part is a musical narration of the theme, "A LOVE SUPREME" which is written in the context; it is entitled "PSALM".

In closing, I would like to thank the musicians who have contributed their much appreciated talents to the making of this album and all previous engagements.

To Elvin, James and McCoy, I would like to thank you for that which you give each time you perform on your instruments. Also, to Archie Shepp (tenor saxist) and to Art Davis (bassist) who both recorded on a track that regrettably will not be released at this time; my deepest appreciation for your work in music past and present. In the near future,
I hope that we will be able to further the work that was started here.

Thanks to producer Bob Thiele; to recording engineer, Rudy Van Gelder; and the staff of ABC-Paramount records. Our appreciation and thanks to all people of good will and good works the world over, for in the bank of life is not good that investment which surely pays the highest and most cherished dividends.

May we never forget that in the sunshine of our lives, through the storm and after the rain – it is all with God – in all ways and forever.

ALL PRAISE TO GOD.

With love to all, I thank you,

​​A Love Supreme

I will do all I can to be worthy of Thee O Lord.
It all has to do with it.
Thank you God.
Peace.
There is none other.
God is. It is so beautiful.
Thank you God. God is all.
Help us to resolve our fears and weaknesses.
Thank you God.
In You all things are possible.
We know. God made us so.
Keep your eye on God.
God is. He always was. He always will be.
No matter what...it is God.
He is gracious and merciful.
It is most important that I know Thee.
Words, sounds, speech, men, memory, thoughts,
fears and emotions – time – all related ...
all made from one ... all made in one.
Blessed be His name.
Thought waves – heat waves-all vibrations –
all paths lead to God. Thank you God.

His way ... it is so lovely ... it is gracious.
It is merciful – thank you God.
One thought can produce millions of vibrations
and they all go back to God ... everything does.
Thank you God.
Have no fear ... believe ... thank you God.
The universe has many wonders. God is all. His way ... it is so wonderful.
Thoughts – deeds – vibrations, etc.
They all go back to God and He cleanses all.
He is gracious and merciful...thank you God.
Glory to God ... God is so alive.
God is.
God loves.
May I be acceptable in Thy sight.
We are all one in His grace.
The fact that we do exist is acknowledgement of Thee O Lord.
Thank you God.
God will wash away all our tears ...
He always has ...
He always will.
Seek Him everyday. In all ways seek God everyday.
Let us sing all songs to God
To whom all praise is due ... praise God.
No road is an easy one, but they all
go back to God.
With all we share God.
It is all with God.
It is all with Thee.
Obey the Lord.
Blessed is He.
We are from one thing ... the will of God ... thank you God.
I have seen God – I have seen ungodly –
none can be greater – none can compare to God.
Thank you God.
He will remake us ... He always has and He always will.
It is true – blessed be His name – thank you God.
God breathes through us so completely ...
so gently we hardly feel it ... yet,
it is our everything.
Thank you God.
ELATION-ELEGANCE-EXALTATION
All from God.
Thank you God. Amen.

JOHN COLTRANE - December, 1964
]]>Sat, 10 May 2025 18:00:44 -0600<![CDATA[Following Jesus is hard]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Following-Jesus-is-hardFollowing Jesus is hard. It always has been, but especially at this moment in time.]]>

Following Jesus is hard

Following Jesus is hard. It always has been, but especially at this moment in time.

Below is part of today's Lectionary readings


The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:1-4 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)

 

Do Not Judge Others

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

Luke 6:37-38 (NET)

]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:34:51 -0600<![CDATA["In This Time Of Desperation"]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Exhortation-to-Patience-and-TrustDo not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, 2 for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.]]>

Hope in what is true

Reading the Lectionary today, I was kicked upside my head by Psalm 37.

1 Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
live in the land and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine like the light
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
7Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them,
13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to kill those who walk uprightly;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous person has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will abide forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked perish,
and the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrow and do not pay back,
but the righteous are generous and keep giving;
22 surely those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 Our steps are made firm by the LORD
when he delights in our way;
24 though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
for the LORD holds us by the hand.
25 I have been young and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are ever giving liberally and lending,
and their children become a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
so you shall abide forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his faithful ones.
The righteous shall be kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and live in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak justice.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watch for the righteous
and seek to kill them.
33 The LORD will not abandon them to their power
or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep to his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on the destruction of the wicked.
35 I have seen the wicked oppressing
and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.,
36 Again I passed by, and they were no more;
though I sought them, they could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is posterity for the peaceable.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from the wicked and saves them
because they take refuge in him.


Psalms 37 (NRSVue Strong's Bible)


]]>Sun, 23 Feb 2025 22:08:50 -0600<![CDATA[Our Founding Documents]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/our-founding-documentsHappy Fourth of July!]]>

Our Declaration of Independence

After listening to The Americas In The Revolutionary Era, I became interested in more about our founding. I am currently reading Ron Cherown's book "Washington: A Life." Fascinating.

Additionally, since it is our Independence Day today, I have posted 2 of our founding documents to read.

That page is HERE.

 

]]>Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:35:17 -0600<![CDATA[The Detective, a 1968 Film]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/the-detective-a-1968-filmThis 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra surprised me with the balanced way it addressed homosexuality.]]>

I watched the film, "The Detective" over the weekend on Kanopy. I chose it because it is a slight film-noire starring Frank Sinatra. I like Sinatra's acting.

The film has good acting and script. What I found interesting was its handling of homosexuality in New York at that time (1968). The film mildly addressed the bigotry faced by gay men from the police then in a factual way, and via Sinatra's role it was portrayed as wrong.

Wikipedia has a good synopsis of the film HERE.

I recommend it.

]]>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 08:19:18 -0600<![CDATA[Paris 1919; Inside the Peace Talks That Changed the World]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/paris-1919-inside-the-peace-talks-that-changed-the-worldThis feature-length film, based on Margaret MacMillan's acclaimed book of the same name, takes us inside the most ambitious peace talks in history.]]>

  

World War 1 fascinates me. That time in the world's history was a huge dividing line between what we were, and what we have become. The world was in upheaval.  

A couple of wartime examples; Turkey entered the war with single-shot rifles. Tanks and submarines were already being used, yet horses were the main "engines" of vehicles. There were still cavalry soldiers!  Charging machine guns! That went poorly.

Three empires collapsed during this war.

But we still had leaders thinking in outmoded ways.

Watching this movie gives a good idea of how worldwide this war was. The difficulty of negotiations exasperated by the arrogance and paternalism of the "big" powers is stunning.

I viewed it on Kanopy, but it is also on Youtube.

    

]]>Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:31:39 -0600<![CDATA[Film; The Soviet Story]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/film-the-soviet-storyThe documentary film, The Soviet Story, has disturbed me as few others have.]]>

    With Putin and his lackeys returning to the world stage to show how evil they are, the film "The Soviet Story" is timely and truly frightening. I was disturbed by this film like few others. How could a nation murder millions of its citizens because they ...... this is the part I'm having the most trouble with; because they did not ..... fit in? Please Stalin? 

    Millions murdered.

    This is a film to be viewed by us in the West to gain "some" understanding why we must support The Ukraine, and other bordering countries, from evil. 

    The Soviet Story overview.

    IMBD listing.

    Kanopy serview via your library.

    Youtube 

]]>Sun, 06 Nov 2022 17:06:27 -0600<![CDATA[Easter is Not Over; or The Lectionary Continues Part 6]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/easter-is-not-over-or-the-lectionary-continues-part-6Some claim the Apostle Paul was a bit of a braggart. I disagree.]]>
    There is a fine line between boasting about yourself and informing others of your qualifications. Paul has been accused of being arrogant and a braggart, I do not believe this is true.
    I have been in a sales position most of my adult life. That experience has taught me that people need to know if I am qualified to do, or know what I claim. They want to hear what my qualifications are from me. That's a fact. Paul needed to inform the people, repeatedly, what his qualifications were - which becomes a double-edge sword with one side appearing to be bragging.
    Being a Swedish Luuuuuuutheran, I am predisposed to downplay my qualifications (see this video about Swedes HERE).
    So, when reading one of Paul's letters, we must read the whole letter to get the full context. Nothing new with that, we need to do that with everyone.

    For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
    You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Galatians 1:11-24 (NRSV)

I am using the Narrative Lectionary this year. You can learn about this lectionary HERE.
]]>Wed, 25 May 2022 10:49:06 -0500<![CDATA[Easter is Not Over; or The Lectionary Continues Part 5]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/easter-is-not-over-or-the-lectionary-continues-part-5    There are many reasons Jesus chose Paul (Saul) to be " my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the ]]>
    There are many reasons Jesus chose Paul (Saul) to be "my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel."
Acts 9:15 (NET 2nd Ed.), but his sales ability has got to be number 1.
    Paul inspects the city of Athens first, to see what religions he would be confronting, and the viewpoints of the Athenians.
    He praises their religious interests first, then makes his sales pitch.
    Paul is the consummate salesman.

    So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
    Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul left the Areopagus. But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:22-34 (NET 2nd Ed.)

I am using the Narrative Lectionary this year. You can learn about this lectionary HERE.
]]>Tue, 17 May 2022 07:31:04 -0500<![CDATA[Easter is Not Over; or The Lectionary Continues Part 4]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/easter-is-not-over-or-the-lectionary-continues-part-4Some things just do not change. New ideas begin spreading and those who do not like, or feel threatened by those ideas, work to quash them.]]>
    Some things just do not change. New ideas begin spreading and those who do not like, or feel threatened by those ideas, work to quash them. Reminds me of the FBI's COINTELPRO project that targeted "groups and individuals the FBI deemed subversive."
    See my post about the film "1971."

    ​ After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
Acts 17:1-9 (NRSV)

I am using the Narrative Lectionary this year. You can learn about this lectionary HERE.
]]>Sat, 14 May 2022 08:57:21 -0500