The Legend Who Worshiped The King

As a shrewd businesswoman once said back when I watched absolute crap on Bravo TV: 'There are empirically good-looking people in this world. And I'm so rarely attracted to them.'

Oh, how I ID'd with that.

Hated myself when after viewing 'Man In The Iron Mask' where this guy played twins, one being a merciless tyrant, the other being a genuine and innocent soul my heart was a little bit lost to without my permission. God never made me a follower, just His black sheep.

As usual, in the Not-A-Book, recently-received instruction brought on by nearly-inspired versus KJV has led me to yet another ministering spirit:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

They keep coming, the Hits & the Spirits. I'm no stranger to Pull. And on a day very special to me in June 2020 a woman blew out over Jesus. The day I was gifted to @mikemullens an invitation was made to have Him watch over and guide Our relationship:

If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me

I myself shut a window on June 6th and opened a Door 20 days later. We've been dining together ever since.

There is Pull in the Research Department. Back to the fifties. I'm watching. I've been instructed to 'Pull Back.' Still learning what that means.

Now I know another twin.

Elvis Presley was a glaringly obvious sex symbol from the get-go. He was chiseled, manicured, full-lipped, blessed with lashes miles long and blue eyes that were capable of melting a woman beneath an effortless-for-him smoldering gaze. And they did. Often. While I poured through books about rock and roll as a preteen, Elvis was a little too obvious for my liking. Just the way God made me. And it was clear to me always that although I knew his songs, I had little interest in the man other than his contribution to music. But then again I always thought wealthy men were intrinsically evil and that car salesmen were sleazy.

God can harden hearts, send deceiving spirits, whatever He feels inclined to do in accordance to His Plan, His Will and His Pleasure. I'm beginning to think He saved not only my soul but any interest in Elvis for now.

My mother and her group of preteen friends back in the early sixties called Graceland and when they got through and the female operator asked innocently enough 'How did you get this number?' they all hung up and cried, feeling they'd been caught in some horrible trouble for making the call. So close.

"Do you enjoy compliments regarding your looks?"
"Not really. That doesn't mean much to me. It's skin-deep. Beauty fades."

You'd have to be blind not to see the physical beauty of Elvis. When I view him I see someone in a little bit of a crisis. I see someone who relished a connection with his audience, the give and take of his vulnerability in sharing his gift and the reaction to that. It must be heady to hear screams of the opposite sex when all you've done is pull your thumb across 6 strings and smile. There were components involved with those reactions that messed with his head. I understand that about Elvis. Oftentimes when things that are meant to be sacred become all about the chemical reaction elicited that you're left with upon igniting that flame, you find yourself in sin. A quandary. A dilemma. An addiction.

'I believe in the Bible. I believe that all good things come from God. I don't believe I'd sing the way I do if God hadn't wanted me to.'

Elvis won all three of his GRAMMY Awards in gospel categories. He took home the Best Inspirational Performance category for 1972 for "He Touched Me"; two years later he won that category again for a live version of "How Great Thou Art."

Priscilla said in a documentary that that rendition of ‘The Wonder of You’ was sung to the Lord specifically.

When this information came to light I experienced full-body goosebumps. God was reminding Elvis of why he received his gift.

Sleeping pills & then Dexedrine early on. He had a fear of insomnia.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He giveth His beloved sleep.

His charisma managed to shine through the affects of drug use. God gives strength enough to Stand.

Several ‘letters’ scribbled by Elvis on hotel notepaper in 1977 have been found, one saying “Lord please give me dignity and grace so that I can have the strength to face these last days that seem to run fast. Give me some more time to do what I can. So that facing death is not a penalty. Please Lord, that’s all I’m asking.”

Along with Psalm 54 which reads:

Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

He had enemies from the beginning shrouded in friendship and professional support. When you get Tom Hanks to play Tom Parker in your bio flick you know there's a big problem. Parker was a Tampa dogcatcher. You catch that?

The overt generosity of Elvis was widely known. He received awards, plaques for that also. He was proud of that.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

It is not lost on me that he retains many traits of Christ. He clung to Jesus and struggled much. He persevered. Faith never left him. He read the bible daily. He needed to and he knew why.

He didn't try to become a star. All he did was walk into a recording studio to make a record for his mom, God Bless her. Since that day life was never the same for him. The only overwhelming feelings I have for Elvis are friendship, kinship, compassion and admiration for holding his own with Christ while being seemingly devoured by addiction and depression. Without Jesus I believe Elvis would have left this earth long before he did. He ran the race. It seems so heavy and insurmountable when I try to put myself in his position. I have huge respect for the man. God loved him much.

"Taking Care of Business," which is what Presley called his band when he returned to the concert circuit in 1969 and was also favored motto of Elvis. The accompanying lightening bolt in this iconic symbol meant “In A Flash.”

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed

He'd rent out entire movie theatres for friends and family so as not to be mobbed by fans but he refused to watch his own movies. He had RCA come to his mansion for recording sessions that lasted well into the wee hours but couldn't stand to hear his own voice for wanting to correct all of the 'mistakes' he heard but what can you do? It's already finished.

For being as vain as some of us may have assumed, the only self-portrait Elvis hung on his walls at Graceland:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Regarding the handlers...as an 'all wise' man once quoted on September 6, 1956:

'As a great philosopher once said...You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!'