First rule: No rules

Love rules -- us.

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Notorious B.I.G.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTSFgot_wgr1tfuMDFA2_4fJ2jtzJ_k4

Sing by the sword, die by the sword. Happens.

Dream

Dreamed that a certain big hombre was composing tunes for my lyrics under another songwriter's supervision. Weird, weird dream. I'm sure God must have been saying something
-- but WHAT??
The dream was very pleasant.
I guess life is but a dream.

What is your real duty?

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Turn to Jesus as your Savior
and make him Lord of your life now.
Make a real, personal decision today.
Hurry! Don't wait for death to strike you down.

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Let's take a current example. If you are Russian or Ukrainian, are you prepared to become an active combatant in the current war? Would you let the Lord decide your future, no matter what your family and friends think? And what of the possibility that the Lord shows you a way to go that doesn't include taking up arms? Are you prepared to Follow him, come what may -- even prison or firing squad?
Are you ready to follow his lead, no matter how weak and contemptible you may appear? What you're after is LIFE, everlasting life.
Go that way.

The Wicked Pickett

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Wilson Pickett playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTSFgot_wgpbkAkA5OVZ3rMNsrqNdRKB

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Why was Wilson Pickett known as "wicked"? First of all, to be "bad" in the sixties and seventies (and longer) was to be ultra-manly. So that's one input.

The other input came from some African-American churchgoers who disapproved his secularization of two or three gospel numbers, such as "99 and a half," which originally referred to Jesus telling of the shepherd who goes looking for a single lost sheep from his herd of 100. Pickett's version refers to 100 percent of "your love." A question: Though Pickett's version is secular, is it really all that irreligious? Another thought: Bluegrass has long been a heady mix of gospel and secular. Does anyone really care to object?

We might bear in mind that Pickett spent much of his boyhood in Alabama, living with his abusive mother. When he went to live with his father in Detroit, he had the run of the streets.

He also realized that another soul singer, Sam Cooke, had used his gospel-singing background to make big headway in the R&B and general pop markets. That sounded fine to young Wilson!

Over the years however Pickett's success was tainted by alcoholism. It's not true that all abused children become alcoholics, but it is true that many do.

Toward the end of his life, Pickett expressed a desire to return to his gospel roots, according to Wikipedia, which may have obtained that information from a relative or friend. He wished to do a gospel album, but recovery from his last illness eluded him before that album could be made.

Even so, we may hope that The Wicked Pickett is now singing God's glories somewhere or other in Paradise.

'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus. Oh How I Need You

This seems like a good initial post.