Welcome to Independence Week and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! Two days from now our country will celebrate its birth. That's 237 years old if you are keeping track. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating 195 years of the most prosperous republic ever seen on the earth.
The Who - "Baba O'Riley" This song comes from the combination of the names of the metaphysical religious author Meher Baba and minimalist musician Terry Riley. Originally written as the opening song for their follow-up to rock opera Tommy (for a conversation on rock opera, just click on this link: Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Mr. Roboto" ), The Who would reduce the song by over 25 minutes to include it in their 1971 release, Who's Next. It was written as an observation of the cultural phenomenon of Woodstock with its excesses. Looking out over that muddy field, a teenage wasteland would be easy to conclude. This observation seems strange coming from a band that is noted for destroying more guitars on stage than any other band in history.
Pete Townsend wrote the song for The Who. Despite the song never being released as a single in the United States "Baba O'Riley" became an instant international hit. With its familiar electronic opening, it has been used in everything from commercials (Mazda 6) to the Olympics (London Olympics 2012). It is listed at #349 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time". It has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for being one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. With all of this success, The Notes wonders what the formative teenage years of Pete Townsend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon would have been like.
King Solomon is attributed to many of the chapters of the book of Proverbs in the Bible. The story regarding his wisdom is well known. It seems however that Solomon did not always heed his own sayings or pay attention to his God-given knowledge. The dysfunction of our modern family would pale in comparison to what Solomon had experienced with his father King David and his brothers. Solomon propagated this broken family model due to the large number of women he "loved". It seems that he did not read some of his own writings when it came to his family.
Proverbs 22:6 stands out to many people as one of Solomon's greatest observations. It simply says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." We must remember that our definition of children and Solomon's would have been significantly different. In Solomon's day and culture, boys and girls that were older than 11 were already beginning to take increasing responsibility for themselves and their families. Solomon's father, King David, was the youngest of his clan when he was selected by God to become the king of Israel. Jesus was trained as a carpenter, the trade of his earthly father Joseph, at an early age. With that context in mind, how should we be training our children today?
Many of you were probably like me. I was part of the drug culture of the '60s and '70s.....we were drug to church every Sunday. (choose your own rimshot) It didn't matter what Disney might be showing on Sunday night, we were going to church. It was what you were supposed to do. The Notes does not wish to judge our parents as to their motivational techniques, yet going to church was not an option for many children and teens during this time. I am told that the decade or two before were even more stringent. Did Proverbs 22:6 have anything to do with this? We now live in a generation where there really is a choice among children and teenagers about attending church. The result has been the aging of the church, a reduction in overall church attendance, and we would say a contributing factor to the decline of our great country.
Perhaps you have heard it said often that "our children and youth are the church of tomorrow". While this is a statement that can cause great hope, the diminishing number of students involved with the ministries of the church is a cause for alarm. The reality of many churches is that the children and youth are the church today... I was at a camp for 3rd-6th graders recently. The declining number of campers is cause for alarm. I was speaking to one of the leaders of the camp who informed me that as little as 20 years ago, there would have been 600 children at that camp. This year the number was 103. "Don't cry....don't raise your eye...it's only teenage wasteland" In that 20 years, the enemy has used some "really good things" to compete against the best things of God. In eternity, what of these "really good things" will we use to glorify Jesus? As Christ- followers and parents, it is our responsibility to determine the difference between these things for ourselves as well as our children. Granted, the church has made mistakes. It is made up of flawed people. But it is still the best vehicle whereby boys and girls can come to a saving heart knowledge and God-motivated desire to serve. Please encourage your children to participate in the activities of your local church. Encourage and pray for the children's ministry leaders at your church. Be involved in the children and youth ministries of your church. Encourage your children to lead in the church now, so they are better equipped to lead in the church in the future.
We make choices daily that impact our children. Our children will one day be the decision-makers in our churches and our country...Training up your child in the way he should go is the greatest thing you can do to celebrate our wonderful country on this Independence Day.
A poem for your consideration:
Only One Life
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say twas worth it all";
Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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