Paul O'Rear's Blog

by Al Hirt

Song: Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)
Artist: Al Hirt
Album: Sugar Lips
Disclosure: The above links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I will receive compensation in the form of a sales commission. Thank you!

Visit my Favorite Songs page. Read about my philosophy and strategies for sharing music here on paulorear.com.

Image Credit:

“Sugar Lips” album cover art (from Amazon.com) used in compliance with the doctrine of Fair Use

“As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)

During the years that I served as a Youth Minister, I frequently encouraged young people to pay attention to the songs they were listening to, the TV shows and movies they were watching, and the things they chose to read. Why? Because, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

If the music you listen to makes you think like a thug, you are a thug. If the stuff you look at on the internet makes you think filthy thoughts, you...

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

Dr. Judith Reisman is President of The Institute for Media Education. As a scientist, researcher, and educator, Dr. Reisman is sought worldwide to speak, lecture, testify, and counsel individuals, organizations, professionals and government agencies regarding fraudulent sex science, sex education, and the power and effect of images and the media to alter human behavior. The focus of her work has been—and...

There was a peasant with a troubled conscience who went to a monk for advice. He said that he had circulated an awful story about a friend, only to find out later that the story was not true. “If you want to make peace with your conscience,” the monk said, “you must fill a bag with chicken feathers, go to every door in the village, and drop at each of them one fluffy feather.”

The peasant did as he was told.

Then he returned to the monk and announced that he had done penance for his folly. “...

For some people, the holidays are not characterized by the idyllic peace and joy of a Currier and Ives Christmas card or a Hallmark movie. For those who are struggling with grief, this time of year can be anything but jolly.

Grief brings with it many feelings and emotions that can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season. Sadness is sometimes triggered even by happy memories, and can weigh heavily on a griever’s heart. Remembering how much Ashley loved Christmas sometimes makes th...

John is tolerant.

John believes that every person should be valued and accepted regardless of their age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, or socioeconomic status.



In John’s eyes, a person who despises, hates, or says mean and ugly things about someone simply because of their age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status,...

(cc) Eran Sadler – Flickr

Recorded June 29, 2014 at the Brown Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie, Texas.




http://www.paulorear.com/audio/YouDontHaveToBePerfect.mp3

Title: “You Don’t Have to be Perfect”

Speaker: Paul O’Rear

Genre: Spoken Word

Length: 28:05

Do you ever get frustrated with your spiritual life?

Do you ever feel like you’re just not good enough for God to love?

God’s love for you doesn’t depend on your worthiness.

We have all sinned, and therefore we all deserve death (Romans 3:23, Romans...

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(cc) Alex Birkett – Flickr

Sometimes, you just don’t have any idea what other people are going through.

I recently received a couple of Facebook messages about my book, Living With a Broken Heart, that blew me away. Perry and Shirley Elkins are dear friends with whom Susan and I worshiped at the College Street Church of Christ years ago.



First, Perry posted this:

Reading LIVING WITH A BROKEN HEART by Paul O’Rear has been a life changing experience. I would recommend this to any age person.

My in...

#157537769 / gettyimages.com

On September 30, 1972, Roberto Clemente became only the eleventh player in Major League Baseball history to get 3,000 career hits. Three months later, he died in a plane crash delivering humanitarian aid from his home country of Puerto Rico to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. He was 38 years old at the time of his death.

Clemente is a baseball legend, winning numerous awards throughout his 18-season career with the Pittsburgh Pirates: batting champion, Golden Glove, Al...

I would like to share a personal goal and see if some of you might be willing to help me reach it. I recently published a book entitled Living With a Broken Heart: Rediscovering Life after Loss, chronicling my family’s journey through grief after the death of our precious daughter Ashley.

In the book, I offer hope to fellow grievers, and practical advice to those wanting to help someone who is grieving.

The book has been well-received over the past few months. To those who have already purchase...