Marriage is hard. That may not sound spiritual, but it’s certainly biblical. From the moment sin entered the garden, marriage has been both a battlefield and a blessing. And if you’ve ever tried to love someone as much as you love yourself, you know the cost. That’s why this book matters. In Marriage or Mayhem?, I oﬀer more than principles—I oﬀer a framework, a theology, and a map. With years of experience counseling couples in crisis and equipping churches to disciple well, I learned a few things about getting beneath the surface. I name the real problems—idolatry, self-centeredness, functional theology—and bring the only real solution: Christ at the center.

Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/chapter-one-marriage-or-mayhem-marriage-asunder/

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Chapter 1: Marriage or Mayhem: Marriage Asunder

People Need a Good Wedding

When the world feels heavy, and the nights are cold,
The battles you're facing, they’re so hard to hold.
You’ve been carrying burdens, too much on your mind,
But I’m here to remind you, you don’t have to find.
The strength that you need, you can rest in my arms,
Though the storms may come, I’ll keep you from harm.

You are never alone, no matter how,
Feel my presence here, I’ll show you how,
The Lord will fight for you, in silence or scream,
Just be still, my child, and trust in the dream.

I see all your struggles, each tear that you cry,
Your heart feels so heavy, but together we’ll fly.
Stop trying to carry what was never your load,
I’m your defender, I’ll lighten the road.
In your moments of weakness, when you wanna break down,
I step in right on time, I’ll turn it around.

Be strong and courageous, do not fear the night,
For I walk beside you, a beacon of light.
There’s peace in the chaos, though you might not see,
In the depths of your struggle, you’re still meant to be.

You are never alone, no matter how,
Feel my presence here, I’ll show you how,
The Lord will fight for you, in silence or scream,
Just be still, my child, and trust in the dream.

As the music plays softly, let your worries unwind,
Close your eyes, breathe deep, leave the hurt behind.
In this soulful journey, let’s embrace the light,
Funky rhythms heal us, bringing hope through the night.
Together we'll conquer, no more running scared,
With love as our armor, we’ll face what we’ve dared.

You are never alone, no matter how,
Feel my presence here, I’ll show you how,
The Lord will fight for you, in silence or scream,
Just be still, my child, and trust in the dream.

So when days feel heavy, and shadows draw near,
Remember I’m with you, let go of the fear.
Now trust in the vision, let your spirit take flight,
In the warmth of this moment, we’ll dance through the night.
You are never alone, just trust in the dream,
With love and connection, we’re stronger than we seem.

Trust in the Dream

Perfection

Written & Recorded By Corey Litchfield
Prod by. Death Knock MUZIK Aka Korzah Mayhem

FED UP

Political theorist Sandro Mezzadra examines the shifting landscapes of contemporary social movements in Europe. In his talk at the “Pluriverse of Peace” conference, Mezzadra reflects on recent mobilizations in Italy, ranging from political general strikes to student occupations, and traces how feminist, environmental, and anti-war struggles generate new forms of collective action and political subjectivity. Drawing on debates about emerging war regimes today, Mezzadra argues for reclaiming the concept of transition. Rather than viewing it as a technocratic roadmap, he suggests considering it as an open horizon that offers an alternative to the apocalyptic tone that shapes much of today’s activism. In his talk, Mezzadra explores this idea and revisits the question of transitioning to communism as a strategic approach to current struggles.

The talk was created for and presented at the “Pluriverse of Peace” conference on Thursday, October 16 at the ICI Berlin. It is loosely based on Sandro Mezzadra’s contribution to the “Pluriverse of Peace” text series.

More info: https://berlinergazette.de/projects/pluriverse-of-peace

Pluriverse of Peace: Sandro Mezzadra

The song 'Criminals' by Juvenile Back To Life delves into the artist's struggle with fake people in the music industry, portraying them as criminals who deceive and manipulate. The lyrics touch on themes of betrayal, resilience, and staying true to oneself amidst challenges and temptations, using vivid metaphors like 'snakes around me like cops' and 'wearing nine chains' to illustrate the harsh realities faced by the artist.

Criminals

The song is a heartfelt declaration of choosing someone not for their perfection, but for their real, imperfect, and vulnerable self. The narrator admires the other person’s flaws, fears, and struggles, seeing them as sources of beauty and strength. Despite the messiness and uncertainty, their love, kindness, and resilience are what make the narrator stay. Ultimately, the message is that genuine love embraces imperfection and chooses the whole person, not an idealized version.

I Choose You

A Kingdom Divided is a mid-tempo country ballad that digs into the tension between heart and mind. A gritty male baritone leads the track, supported by warm female harmonies and a blend of acoustic guitar, fiddle with a hint of Irish influence, piano, and gentle reverb that sets a reflective tone. The arrangement grows naturally—from intimate acoustic moments to fuller sections with brush drums, bass, electric guitar swells, pedal steel, and soft organ—to mirror the emotional weight of the song.

The story centers on the inner battle that can happen when love feels fragile, when the mind and heart refuse to agree, and when the foundation beneath a relationship starts to shift. As the song builds, layered harmonies and slide guitar add warmth and longing, ending on an understated fade that leaves a lingering sense of hope, heartbreak, and honesty.

Lyrics by Mark Maust.

A Kingdom Divided

STRUGGLES

29 Year Old Emcee,  From Perth, Western Australia.
CEO & Founder of Death Knock MUZIK

Praying With The Eyes is a ministry of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs which combines the beauty of God's Word with the beauty of his creation.

Mijn naam is Cor Liekens, geboren en getogen in Rotterdam in Nederland. Ik ben een  bevlogen creatieve en energieke producer met een sterke focus op het eind resultaat en kwaliteit van mijn muziek en videoclips. 

Ik heb zelf gespeeld in diverse funkbands als gitarist, bassist en zanger en gewerkt als Club DJ en Radiomaker. Ik ben een ervaren audio/visueel vormgever,  videomaker, regisseur en theaterproductieleider. 

Ik heb jarenlang samengewerkt met mijn levenspartner Patricia Buijtendijk, welke helaas is overleden ten gevolge van de ernstige ziekte ALS. Ik heb met Patty veel theatervoorstellingen op de planken gebracht. 

Ik maak ook online programma's en videopodcasting voor mijn radiostation "Jukebox Hits Radio". In mijn penthouse studio heb ik de beschikking over professionele high-end audio- en video apparatuur met meerdere 4k camera's, 4k beeldschermen en beeldmixers, audiomixers, licht- en geluidsapparatuur. 

Jullie kunnen bij mij terecht voor het laten maken van Ai video's en videoclips, videoproducties, het maken van een song op mijn eigen label, een bedrijfspitch, video podcasting, artwork en het maken van een een videolevensverhaal "The Soundtrack Of Your Life". Ook maak ik orkestbanden voor muzikanten. 

Momenteel ben ik bezig met de afronding voor mijn One Man Show bezig de "Jukebox Hits Revue". In deze theaterachtige show speel ik de grootste en lekkerste hits uit de jaren 60, 70 en 80. 

De One Man Show is gericht op ouderen welke verblijven in instellingen, waarmee ik hun een dag bijzonder wil maken met muzikale herinneringen uit hun jongeren jaren. 

Ik maak muziek en video's puur vanuit mijn hart en passie voor muziek. Mijn eigen songs zijn veelal biografisch en hebben deels betrekking op mijn leven in wie ik ben en waar ik voor staat. 

Word graag abonnee van mijn YouTube, SoundCloud, Mixcloud en TikTok kanalen. Ik heb ook een eigen Facebookpagina met 3.8k bekende en minder bekende muzikanten.

Bekijk mijn YouTube Trailer: https://youtu.be/fthFuHtsOe8

Bekijk mijn studio op YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CorLiekens/posts

GTL Music Promotions is the artistic label of Peter Irvine, a songwriter, music producer, and keyboardist based in Bellshill, Glasgow, Scotland. Although he co-owns a logistics business, music remains his passionate hobby. His compositions span various genres, characterized by emotive melodies and storytelling drawn from personal experiences.
With 88songs, including 20 covers & 22 instrumentals released to date.

Most of my music centers on Jesus Christ and God’s amazing grace. I primarily write in the Country Christian style, but every now and then I like to branch out when the mood strikes. You might hear touches of alternative Christian rock (I did grow up in the ’60s and ’70s), contemporary gospel, or even a hint of bluegrass gospel along the way. From time to time, I also step outside faith-based music into modern bluegrass or country.

One of my current projects is an album inspired by poems I wrote to my wife while she was deployed during Desert Storm in 1991. After all these years, I’m finally adapting them into songs — a project that’s been close to my heart for decades.

I was fortunate to play bass and sometimes piano in my late teens and early twenties for a country gospel group known as The Gospel Crusaders. We performed primarily at churches across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Then life happened, and I stepped away from performing for almost 50 years. During this time, I started focusing more on writing lyrics and music. In 2017, I picked up my mandolin and joined God’s Country in Largo, Florida. The group disbanded in 2023 when several members moved out of state, but we’re planning a reunion performance in 2026.

Even when I venture beyond my main focus of sharing the gospel through song, I strive to keep my lyrics honest, heartfelt, and sometimes just plain fun. Believe it or not, I’m not in this to make money — I write as an outlet to share the stories and experiences of life over the past 70 years. I write the lyrics for most of my songs, though I’ve been blessed to collaborate with a few talented friends along the way.

I use Studio One to produce my music and have built a large library of loops over the years. Some vocals are mine; others are performed by friends. And yes, I also use AI-generated voices or enhancements to vocals when needed.  I am in my 7th decade on earth and my voice doesn’t have the range it once had, plus I don’t have immediate access to female vocalists.  There’s a lot of debate about AI in music, but for me, the goal has never changed — to spread God’s love and joy. Technology is simply a tool, much like the studio innovations that have shaped music for the past fifty years.

In today’s music, many well-known and touring artists now use pre-recorded tracks and digital stems during live concerts to fill out harmonies, recreate orchestral parts, or trigger sound effects — it’s all part of modern performance. Whether it’s a backing track on stage or an AI vocal line in the studio, the heart behind the music still matters most.

I don’t believe AI will ever replace real musicians, but those who learn to embrace it and use it to enhance their craft will continue to flourish in the music industry.

I play bass, trumpet, guitar, piano, mandolin, and I’m currently working to get up to speed on the fiddle. You may not agree with my take on AI, and that’s okay. My purpose isn’t profit — it’s to share the message of God’s love through whatever tools I have, whether that’s a guitar, a loop, or an algorithm that helps me clean up a mix.

As W. Edwards Deming once said,
“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”

Technology will keep evolving, and so will we. My greatest hope is that one of these songs touches someone’s heart or makes a difference in their life. If God can use even one of them to do that, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

God bless you all.

Medium since 1999 – Culture–Politics–Technology – DE/EN – https://berlinergazette.de

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master's University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).

Story telling Poet, Music Composer and Producer.
geraldegreene@gmail.com

New tracks tagged #Struggles