Chapter 13
Jerusalem
About twelve years ago I sat in the corner of my office working the second shift of some meaningless dead end job. It was a place where my troubled life was at a crossroads and the my future seemed so lost and un-certain. My life had fallen apart and I had lost everything. My family, my career, all my money and any self dignity seemed lost and out the window. It was a place for me of total loneliness and a place full of repercussions from a multitude of bad decisions that I had made over the years . As I remember sitting in my pain that windy summer’s night there was no one else around. So with one eye on the office floor and the other on a piece of paper, I began to write. Thought upon thought 
came into my mind and heart. And eventually one by one made its way to the fine sheets of paper that lay so prominently in front of me. That night, I thought would be no different than any other, but little did I realize how significant it actually would be. After finishing jotting down some lyrics for some songs for my brother's Dominick and Victor Petrecca's group called Believer I gently put the writings inside my writing pad and finished out my lazy shift. Not thinking what I had just been a part of, not realizing really what I had just been privileged to compose at that time and place. Several days later I visited my brother Victor at the Jersey Shore where I grew up and gave him these scribbled upon pieces of paper, thinking nothing of it at the time. I remember Victor hearing me singing in the shower that weekend and asking me where that song came from. I explained to him that about three days before, I had a revelation and the Lord gave me lyrics for twelve new songs. Vic just looked at me and said, "Let me see what I can come up with and what the Lord will do with these. I will get back to you brother if God gives me anything here." I smiled at him and said," Thanks bro, I will probably be back in two weeks to go the beach again in New Jersey." I drove off heading back home that Sunday not thinking too much except that another week was in front of me. You know my friends, the longer I live, the longer God allows me to grow both spiritually and in age,the Lord Jesus shows me everyday that great moments are happening right around us all the time. Every moment, if you think about it, leads to something. Whether good or bad it leads us to an out-come. Sort of like the day you met your wife or husband. Do you remember the first time you ever saw their face? Do you remember the first time you held the warmth of their hand? Do you ever think about that during your days now? I mean, one day you are sitting alone wondering if you will ever find love again,and then bang out of the blue the woman who will bare your children 2 years later is unexpectedly introduced to you. Or what about the time you pitched that perfect game when you were fourteen and two hundred people got at thrill they thought they wouldn't see that day. Even though none of them realized at the time that you almost over slept and had to run three miles to the ball park just to get there in the nick of time as your coach looked at you with glaring eyes pondering whether to bench or play you that breezy Saturday morning in July of 1975. No, no one knew that. Not even yourself at the time. Why? Because you were caught up in the moment. Most of us, if we are honest cannot trace the great moments of our lives to their beginning. I believe that life has a way of distracting us so that even if we wanted to be realizing greatness at the moment it begins is nearly physically impossible. Maybe life is to busy to understand this. Maybe we as people expect great things from God because he is such a Great God. That is why we take these origins for granted. Maybe at the same time taking God for granted for all that He is and does for us everyday of our lives here on earth. All I know, without getting to philosophical here, is that when I came back to the Jersey Shore two weeks later the Lord had one of the greatest blessings in my young spiritual and physical life waiting for me. Little did I know that this wretch of a man would have been so privileged and honored to be used by God to write one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard. The song is called "Jerusalem" and it means the world to me. My brother Victor, who I love very much, put music to these words and played them for me. All I can say now is that tears of joy rolled down my face that day in 1997. I want to share with you the lyrics of this song today. You can also go to media link and listen to this song on the glorystealer.com website where 
you can also hear other arrangements that were created nearly twelve years ago. I hope these songs are as much a blessing to you as they have been to me. For some reason no record company has picked them up yet but I want to thank the Good Lord for Victor and Dominick Petrecca for placing these God sent lyrics to composition and song. And for using their God given instrumental talents to perform them. I want to thank you Dominick (The Voice) and Victor (The Guitar Man) for making these words come to life. I hope one day maybe on a sunny Sunday afternoon you will listen, really listen, to what the Lord allowed us to do. Always remember that great moments are born of great opportunity. I am so honored to have worked with you on this project. It has meant and still means the world to me that God would use us in such a beautiful way to share his thoughts with us. May you think of me, brothers, whenever you hear these songs. Especially Jerusalem. As I do of you both with a smile every time I hear this beautiful melody. Here now are the lyrics of one of songs born out of that lonely summer's night at my work place. You just never know, do you? You just never know. Let me ask you my friends before I go, just a humble question. Will you recognize when God begins your journey of doing something great for Him?. It may not be writing a song or a book like me. Maybe it will be an act of kindness that saves someone's life. Maybe a letter that encourages a friend to hang in there when there world is falling apart. Who knows? There is one who knows. His name is Jesus Christ. And He knows the time and place for everything. Be ready my friends, because you never know whose life you are planned to touch. I wish you much success on your journey with God. And remember greatness, greatness from God, may be only a moment away. Oh the power of the Great Lord Jesus Christ. Here is Jerusalem.
May God Bless you and yours.!!!!
Jerusalem, the city where I shall die.
Upon the cross, your banner I shall rise high.
No One will say your beauty is in vain.
For I shall come again
Resurrection in my Father's Name
(Chorus)
All Glory is He , for He sent me to you.
All Glory is He for I came for you
They think that they have won
Now that I am gone
They think that they are free
For their sin has fell upon me.
Now I am in you and you are Forgiven
Oh Jerusalem, You will never forget me.
(Chorus)
Jerusalem, know that I must leave
I will live inside those who believe
My Father's Kingdom is where I will be
Oh Jerusalem, thank you for setting me free!!
(Chorus Repeat)
God Bless, to all of you. I hope you go to the media section of this site and hear this with the music.
ALL Glory to God,
Thanks, Al