Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2)

Rules of Civility # 13 - " Kill no vermin, as fleas, lice, ticks, etc., in the sight of others.  If you see any filth or thick spittle put your foot dexterously upon it, if it be upon the clothes of your companions put it off privately, and if be upon your own clothes return thanks to him who puts it off. 

Welcome To Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes where the only decision that you have to make is whether or not to read it......that's a no brainer, why else would you be here?  Are you ready to chart the course for another musical exploration?  Sure ya are...Let's go!!!! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Coming off of their 1985 Live Aid performance and a growing international fan base from 4 previous albums and consequent tours, U2 steamrolled into 1987 with the release of The Joshua Tree in March of that year.  Inspired by the band's exploration into America and it's musical roots, The Joshua Tree quickly became the fastest selling album in British history and stayed at #1 on the Billboard 200 for 9 weeks, bolstered by the #1 singles "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".  From the Rattle & Hum DVD, here's U2:

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

As you read the Bible, there are many times when characters seem to be looking for something.  Some of those are God inspired, others were searches of a more selfish nature.  The Old Testament (Genesis - Malachi) tells of the Israelites seeking out the Promised land.  Once they established themselves as a nation, they became proud and lost focus on the One who provided the land and their ability to be a nation.  God provided prophets to shepherd and attempt to guide them back to the place they were supposed to be, yet they shunned that leadership and wound up as servants once again to various dynasties.  In The New Testament (Matthew - Revelation) the story continues as the Messiah arrives on the scene.  He is the Promised One and His Name is Jesus.  Once again the leaders of the nation did not recognize the very One they were supposed to be looking for and shunned Jesus.  It seems they weren't satisfied with how God had provided for them in either the Old or New Testament. 

Many times when Jesus was teaching, He used stories or parables to get His point across.  The 15th chapter of Luke is the telling of 3 stories about people who were searching. These stories reinforce each other and the point that Jesus was trying to make.  You can read these parables here:  Luke 15 KJV/HCSB.  Perhaps you can see that as Jesus was teaching, He was directing his message to all of the people around Him.  The "religious" and the "sinners".  Each could relate to the differing perspectives of the characters in Jesus narrative.  Some of them got the point and some....still haven't found what they're looking for. 

It is so easy to judge the scribes and pharisees of Jesus' day. We look back across history and wonder how they missed it.  The question however arises...how about us today?  There seems to be so much dissatisfaction with how God has blessed us.  Recently, we had the opportunity to attend a large sporting event.  Parking was sufficient, but it required either a lengthy walk, or shuttle ride to arrive at the destination.  After the event had completed, our party made the decision to wait on the shuttle to take us back where we had parked.  The wait took a bit longer than we had anticipated and some "sports fans" were not so sporting by the time we got on board.  In fact, they complained when the driver did not take the route in which they had anticipated.  We found it interesting that these people CHOSE to be on the shuttle instead of walking and yet were still complaining about the way they were going.  The event staff had planned on us having a way to our cars, yet it did not fit the "mold" that some of the riders had anticipated and they voiced their dissatisfaction.   

  Are there times when Jesus and The Way are not exactly what we signed on to when we first believed?  Do we actively seek the "lost" that we interact with every day?  Are we judgmental of others that we come into contact with because of the sin we perceive they have in their lives? Are we dissatisfied with the Savior that God has provided for us? If we are to be honest with one another, there are times in all of our lives when the answer to these questions unfortunately is "yes".  These are all tactics from the enemy to cause our walk in The Way to be less effective.  We however have the assurance that like the apostle Paul we can boldly proclaim...."
⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

As we pray for each other today, pray that we won't be like the scribes and pharisees of Jesus day and fall into the trap of the evil one as they look into the face of the Savior and proclaim:
"I still haven't found what I'm looking for"

On April 16th, the music world lost a true pioneer.  Before Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin, there was Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea.  George Beverly Shea died last week at the age of 104.  He was the principal musician for the Billy Graham crusades and was a part of Billy Graham's ministry team for over 60 years.  With a hymn that he wrote and one of my all time favorites.... from 1965...George Beverly Shea

"I'd Rather Have Jesus"


'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by loving you,

Randy