Java Jive -- Keepsake and Coffee

Coffee and/or tea has two functions for me--keeps me awake and relax. Ironically, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea is one of the things that I do in order to relax. Whenever I do my so-called nothing day--no worries,  no work, no obligations whatsoever--I make it a point to have a cup of coffee or tea just to cap it off. On the other hand, coffee could also cause tension and unrest especially on busy and hectic days. But to me, coffee doesn't necessarily keep me awake. I will admit that I was told to drink coffee so that I could stay awake. But in recent years, no matter how much I drink coffee or tea, sleep would still creep in every chance it gets.

While thinking about this subject, I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs that I used to sing with the choir--Java Jive. To all coffee and tea drinkers out there, this is one song that perfectly complements that cup or mug of coffee/tea. I like the rendition in this video because it's faithful to the arrangement done by Kirby Shaw. I also like the soloists here compared to the other videos I've heard. Hope you enjoy this relaxing song.

JAVA JIVE

I love coffee, I love tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Boy!) 

I love java, sweet and hot 

Whoops Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot 

Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup 

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug 

And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug 

A sliced up onion and a raw one 

Draw one - 

Waiter, waiter, percolator 

I love coffee, I love tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup 

Boston bean (soy beans) 

I say those itty-bitty green bean (cabbage and greens) 

You know I'm not that keen about a bean 

Unless it is a cheery coffee bean (talk it boy!) 

I love java sweet and hot 

Whoops Mr. Moto I'm a coffee pot (yeah) 

Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot 

A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah) 

Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug 

'An I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug 

Drop a nickel in the pot Joe 

Takin' it slow 

Waiter, waiter, percolator 

I love coffee and tea 

I love the Java Jive and it loves me 

Coffee and tea and the java and me 

A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy! 

Prayer for Healing

When I do my prayers, prayer for healing forms part of my daily set. These days we all need some form of healing. In the recent events that happened to our country--the monsoon, the typhoons, the death of an efficient and effective government official, the rise in prices of basic commodities among others--some may feel that it's the end of the world, the end of their lives. So what else is there to live for? Well, this may be an age-old adage, but the only way is to turn our attention to the one and only author of life: Jesus Christ.

 Any form of healing that we may need--physical, mental, spiritual, psychological--let God in and welcome him as he does the one thing he's always been doing since he created us--to heal us of our heartaches, our pains, our sufferings. Whatever it is that we've been through, know that he himself has undergone them too. He became man for us, grew up just like an ordinary human being. To this day, he remains with us in several churches all over the world. Every hurt that we feel, he feels it too. Every suffering we go through, he suffers alongside us to. Despite being the author of life, he did not spare himself of the pain and suffering that we as human beings go through in this world. Shall we not go to this man and ask for his help and learn from him what it truly means to suffer for the sake of loving others?

One song expresses this more than any other. Let's all pray that God may heal our land.

HEAL OUR LAND

If my people will humble themselves 
Humble themselves and pray 
If they seek my face and humble themselves 
And turn from their wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 1]
I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins 
I will hear from heaven and heal their land 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/jamie-rivera-heal-our-land-lyrics.html ]
[CHORUS] 
Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land 
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You 
Lord, heal our land 
Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land 
Forgive our sin and heal our broken land 

Lord, we vow our knee, we humble ourselves 
Humble ourselves and pray 
Lord, we seek your face and humble ourselves 
And turn from my wicked ways 

[REFRAIN 2]
Father in Your mercy, forgive our sins 
Father in Your mercy, come heal our land 

[Repeat CHORUS twice] 

[CODA]
(Lord, heal our land 
Father, heal our land) 
Hear our cry and heal our broken land 

A Beautiful Blessing

While struggling to keep myself awake, I was reading chapter 6 from the Book of Numbers. Towards the end, I read a prayer that the Lord said to Moses to be used to bless the people. Upon reading it, I was reminded of a musical rendition of this song during my early years at a university choir. There is a more popular version of this song, but I couldn't help but reminisce the time that I sang John Rutter's version of "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." During the first time I sang this piece, I had difficulty with the soprano line. The female voices would sing the first half of the prayer first. The way that the soprano line soars was quite a challenge to me then. But if sung very well, it's that feeling of soaring successfully that makes the effort worth while.

The repeating lines and the extended "Amen" made me relax and calm and even made me stay awake during the reading of the bible. So much so that I think this is a song--a keepsake--that's worth sharing. Here is a rendition of the song by the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Hope that it will uplift your hearts and souls to God and be at peace knowing that He will always bless us with everything that we need to do our duties for the coming week.