Couldn't have said it better myself!! Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! Where we live in a Material World, wishing on our Lucky Stars, hoping to be on the cover of Vogue, while waiting for our Holiday!!!! Did you get a break recently? If not I hope you have one planned for this summer. You deserve a break today:
"You Deserve A Break Today"
Well, maybe not to McDonald's, but at least away from your normal routine. We call it a vacation!! In Great Britain it is called "holiday".
"Holiday" - Madonna - 1983
For some of us it is hard to believe that 30 years have passed since pop singer Madonna arrived on the scene. (She's 55 this year by the way). 1983 saw her first single hit the charts from her eponymous debut album, Madonna. "Holiday" went to #16 on Billboards Hot 100 and all the way to #1 on the dance chart. A "lucky star" was born. (Is that a sigh I hear?). For the past 30 years Madonna has transformed herself from an '80s wannabe to an iconic figure whose music has left a lasting mark in our culture.
Madonna has not been without her critics since arriving on the scene. It seems at times that she has gone out of her way to inform everyone that she is not a paragon of virtue. She defined a generation's style throughout the 80's. After establishing herself as the queen of popular music, she went about displaying her "range". Savvy in the business perspectives of the music world and provocative in the entertainment portion, Madonna would attempt acting through the late 80's and all through the 90's even winning a Golden Globe for her performance in the 1996 movie Evita. Most critics agree however that her strength is music and concerts.
It was the infectious groove of "Holiday" that would start the career and success that Madonna sees to this day. She continues to make albums and tour in support of them. But you can just imagine that even with all of the "interests" that Madonna has that she could afford to have a time where she "took a holiday, took some time to celebrate..."
In the Bible we see times where great men and women of God took a break. Many of these times were spent in the desert. (Can you imagine taking a vacation in the Sahara? Me neither.) Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and most of the prophets had times where they were in solitude. (Not necessarily a vacation, but at least a change from their normal routine.) Sometimes these breaks were to provide rest from a time of hard work, others were to prepare them for times of persecution or rejection. Even Jesus would go to a place of solitude to get away from the crowds and refocus. Here is a great sermon on how Jesus prioritized His time alone:
The Solitude and Silence of Jesus - Tom Shepherd
For me the highlight of this sermon is speaking about Jesus temptation. At His weakest physical point (He had fasted for 40 days and nights), Jesus went toe to toe with Satan and defeated Him by using scripture. He has promised us that He will not ask more of us than we can stand, and that He knows every temptation by which we are tempted. This was the moment He could make those claims. He was then attended to by angels. Jesus was using this time to prepare for His ministry.
Please don't think that we want to make you feel guilty for taking a vacation that doesn't involve demonic conflict. Everyone needs a break, a time for refreshing, a time away from the normality of our lives. As Christians, doing everything as unto the Lord, shouldn't our breaks honor God as well? The hotel clerks, housekeeping staffs, servers at the restaurants, everyone we encounter has been placed in our path for a reason. It may be an opportunity for us to encourage a fellow brother in Christ, or we could have the chance of a lifetime and introduce a preChristian to Jesus. Things that make you go hmmm....
As we plan for an incredible summer and the vacations that usually go with this time of the year, let's take the opportunity to remind ourselves that even when we are away from our normal, we interact with others who may be in their "normal". Maybe this could be more than just a "Holiday.....let's celebrate"
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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