Accentuate the Positive

Don't mess with Mr. In-Between. At least that's how Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters used to sing it. Some of you may remember the old song, "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive." The words and music of this song came by way of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in the 1940's. What an appropriate time for the thought of the song, since our country was immersed in World War II.

This song was also performed and recorded by such stars as Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, and Al Jarreau, but I prefer the version by Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. I'll give you the lyrics in case you don't remember...

Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me while I'm preachin'
Feel a sermon comin' on me
The topic will be sin and that's what I'm ag'in'
If you wanna hear my story
The settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?

(Man, they said "We'd better accentuate the positive")
("Eliminate the negative")
("And latch on to the affirmative")
Don't mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)
(Bring gloom down to the minimum)
(Have faith or pandemonium's)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)

You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, don't mess with Mister In-Between

Those of us who are Christians need to remember to rejoice. There are too many good things about Christianity to be negative all of the time. If you are down and out, remember your spiritual blessings, remember heaven, remember your God and Savior, and remember your Christian friends.

Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don't mess with Mr. In-Between!

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, 'Rejoice.'" ~ Phil. 4:4