Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Cruel Summer" (Bananarama)

Rules of Civility #20 - "The gestures of the body must be suited to the discourse you are upon"

Welcome to Tuesday and the July 25th edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  I'm Randy Cross and for the next few minutes we'll dive into a great tune from the '80s, reminisce about that time and see if the song still has applications and implications for today.  Welcome again, now on with the countdown...


This band is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the all-female band having the most charted singles ever.  By 2002, the band had sold 40 million records world wide.  While moderately successful in the United States during the decade of the '80s, this band has seen international success with their brand of dance music that continues to rock the beat in clubs all over Europe.  They hit #1 internationally with the cover of Shocking Blue's #1 hit from 1971, "Venus". They started as a trio, but officially became a duet as of 1993.  They celebrated 30 years of recording in 2012 and were the featured musical act at the men's final of beach volleyball at the London Olympics.  But it was a #9 hit from the album Deep Sea Skiving featured in the movie The Karate Kid, (but not appearing on the soundtrack) that would propel the band Bananarama to icons in the music industry that was the '80s.  From 1984, here's Bananarama with "Cruel Summer":

Bananarama "Cruel Summer"

The Notes must concur with Bananarama's observation regarding summer. "It's too close for comfort, this heat has got right out of hand..." and the summer just started!  Alas, we have gotten conditioned to the air conditioning.  There was a time when each of us probably couldn't wait for the summer to begin.  We would see the transitions from winter to spring and know that just around the corner would be a time when the school bells would not ring. Outside in the sun was the only place we wanted to be.  We traded school work for a different kind of working activity.  At our house, summer always brought garden work, yard work, and more garden work. This transition of inside work to outside work provided the benefits of a healthy body and incredible food that would last through most of the winter.  In reality, we welcomed the fruits of our labor despite the temporary discomforts of a humid Arkansas summer.  What were the signs that indicated that summer was near for you? 

In the 21st chapter of Luke, Jesus was in Jerusalem with His disciples who began commenting on the splendor of the temple.  At this point, Jesus makes a bold statement regarding a time when "the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." - Luke 21:6.  This disturbed the group enough that their inquiring minds wanted to know more.  So they asked when these events would begin to take place.  Jesus then begins a brief message regarding the watchfulness of His disciples for signs that the things He speaks of will come to pass.  You can read the entire message here:   

Luke 21:5-36 King James Version/New International Version Parallel. 

Let's focus on the summer section of Jesus' message, from verse 29-31:

 "He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."

Have you read about any of the events that Jesus described occurring in our time?  Could "summer" be near?  Some of the worst floods in Canadian history happened last week.  It seems every other week or so, we hear news of a major earthquake happening.  Here is a link to earthquake activity this year:

2013 Earthquake events United States Geological Survey.

Perhaps you can remember a couple of hurricanes named Rita and Katrina?  A steady diet of global warming propaganda from the news media can distract our vision from the coming of "summer".  Our news headlines are not only filled with natural disasters, but human disasters as well.  The civil war in Syria, the people of Brazil in the streets protesting, the United States constant tensions with Russia and Iran, and the Arab world "compassing" around Israel, are all examples of our "summer" being at hand.  Persecutions of Christians around the world, including in the US, occur on a daily basis.  (For more information about Christian persecution visit Voice Of The Martyrs)

It is very easy to see that Jesus' words are coming true in our lifetime.  Does that mean we need to keep our eye on the Eastern sky?  Sure!!!  Jesus commanded His disciples to be watching for these prophecies to be fulfilled in their lifetime, how much more should we be watchful as we see events of Biblical proportions unfold before our eyes ?  So friend, the question begs...are you ready for "summer"?  Have you looked at any fig trees lately?


"Strange voices are saying, What did they say, Things I can't understand It's too close for comfort This heat has got right out of hand"...



'Til Tuesday,


Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Bring Me Down" (Electric Light Orchestra)

Rules of Civility # 19 - "Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave."

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. - Romans 1:7-8

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. -

 1 Corinthians 1:3-5

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. -
 2 Corinthians 1:2


¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength. - Ephesians 1:15-19



² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, ⁴ always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  - Phillipians 1:3-6

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints ⁵ because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. - Colossians 1:2-6


Grace to you and peace.
² We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2
² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
³ We must always thank God for you, brothers. This is right, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. - 
2 Thessalonians 1:2-3

² To Timothy, my dearly loved son.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. -
2 Timothy 1:2-3


To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, ² to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. ⁶ I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. ⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. - Philemon 1:1-7

To my dear friend Gaius: I love you in the truth.
² Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually^{.  3} For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 1:1-4


Grace to you and peace!  I thank the Father of the heaven that is being prepared for the saints of this world, as I get to write to you each week and pray for your faith to grow and your life to be encouraged.  Welcome to Tuesday and the 118th edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!  What started out as a weekly e-newsletter (118 weeks ago) to a few friends has,  with encouragement from those friends,  expanded into its 2nd year (57 editions strong) of blogs about songs and spirituality, rhymes and religiosity, beats and The Book, and jams and Jesus.  We thank you for reading and hope that you are encouraged each week in The Way.  Our goal here at The Notes is to offer you similar encouragements to those of the New Testament letters that you see above.  You may notice that there are 10 passages quoted above.  That means that 37% of the New Testament begins with a greeting that is encouraging.  Do you greet people with encouragement that much of the time?  Or perhaps they want to say to you....

 "Don't Bring Me Down" - Electric Light Orchestra

This song was a neat Discovery in 1979.  The Electric Light Orchestra had released 7 albums up to this date with singles bouncing all over the charts.  In fact, ELO has the distinction of being the band with the most top 40 hits in Billboard's Hot 100 without every having a #1 single.  The closest they ever came was 1979's "Don't Bring Me Down".  It went as high as #4.  The disco influenced, last minute addition to Discovery, immediately had people talking.  Was it a song about coming down from a drug high?  Was it a song about unrequited love?  What exactly is the word that has the long "s" sound at the end?  It wound up being a song that Jeff Lynne said was

“	It's a great big galloping ball of distortion. I wrote it at the last minute, 'cos I felt there weren't enough loud ones on the album. This was just what I was after.	”
—Discovery remaster (2001), Jeff Lynne

Despite its many interpretations, "Don't Bring Me Down" is one of the songs that launched us into the decade of the extravagant '80s where it seems, in retrospect, that nothing was brought down.  A resurgence of '60s peace, prosperity, and love was abounding. 


Why is it that Christians don't send greetings like the New Testament writers?  Aren't we commanded by The Master to first love God and then love others?  The World English Dictionary defines the word greet as a verb that means "to meet or receive with expressions of gladness or welcome".  When you encounter others, how glad are you to see them?  Does it depend upon who it is?  Exactly who does Jesus refer to when He speaks of "others" that we are to love?  The Notes once again confesses that we don't live up to the expectations of our Savior in the manner of loving others or greeting others as we should.  Think back to this past weekend.  (cue flashback music...) We would like to pose a few questions about Sunday.  Did you love others enough to want to interact with them in a small group setting?  Did you love others enough to want to encourage them by worshiping the One True God together?  Did you love others enough to invest in a moment or two to get to know them better?  What expression of love were you able to provide the "others" that God put in your path this past Sunday?  Hopefully, you were surrounded by those who had faith in Jesus as a common denominator, at the very least .  Were greetings of grace and peace abundant?  Perhaps you were met with a teasing "They will let just about anyone in here!" or maybe you were the "encouraging"one to say that to someone else.  How do we expect to treat a preChristian in a loving manner when teasing, cynicism, or "humurous" put downs are how we treat our brothers in Christ?  Perhaps we should take notes from this encounter:

An Atheists Encounter With A Christian - Penn Teller

In conversations with people, do we show love?  How many times do the words "I" or "Me" come into our sentences?  This is a display of selfishness which shows antipathy towards the things of God.  Ours is a time where encouragement is needed.  Ours is a world that is oppressed by the sin that so easily besets us.  Everyday we encounter people who need to be lifted up from where they are and elevated to a Father that loves them.  As Christians, we do not have time to spend on "cute" insults to cause a cheap laugh.  We have a world full of people begging us....."Don't bring me down....no, no, no, no, no...."

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You Can Call Me Al" (Paul Simon)

Rules of Civility #18 - "Read no letters, books, or papers in company, but when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave.  Come not near the books or writings of another so as to read them unless desired, or give your opinion of them unasked.  Also, look not nigh when another is writing a letter."

Uh......a letter?  Do you think this rule applies to cell phones as well as letters, books, or papers?  Remember, you could be one electromagnetic pulse away from being sent back to George Washington's time....just sayin'.

Welcome to Tuesday and this weeks Musical Notes....that means you are reading Tuesday's Musical Notes....is that redundant or should we type it again?  This is the time of the week where we pause together to reflect rhythmically, think thematically, and generally have a good time with classic songs.....well, songs that are some of The Notes favorites anyway:)!  Welcome!!!

The years 1946-1964 are considered the generation of the Baby Boomers.  The last 2 years of this group will celebrate their 50th birthday either this year or next.  Happy Birthday!!!  Many will take the time to pause and consider how those 50 years have been spent. Perhaps even this scenario will play out in their mind...."A man walks down the street and says, "Why am I soft in the middle now...""

Paul Simon "You Can Call Me Al" with an assist from Chevy Chase

Welcome to Graceland, the Grammy winner for album of the year in 1987 from Paul Simon.  The album featured a wide variety of instrumentation and is inspired by Paul Simon's trip to South Africa.  It was a major return to the charts by Simon who had been in a musical slump.  With the release of the first single and its synth horn sectioned charged,  intro, "You Can Call Me Al", Simon would see the beginnings of a resurgence that allows him to continue to be popular in concerts around the world today.  The climb back would be slow as the initial release in the fall of 1986  of "You Can Call Me Al" only went as high as #44.  The reissue that received greater promotion would chart as high as #23 domestically, establishing Graceland as an album to be considered a must have for turntables across the land. 

"You Can Call Me Al" seems to be the considerations of a person teetering on a midlife crisis with its first couple of verses before receding into lyrics based on the aforementioned South African trip.  With these lyrics, Paul Simon exposes the age old questions of embracing the familiar past, while fighting the fears of the future. With the last of the Baby Boomers turning 50, here is some encouragement about what the future may hold:

"Famous After 50"
 
In some respects, the folks mentioned in this article  really began living after they turned 50.  While they probably where successful in their personal lives prior to this time, it seems the creative juices of success didn't come to full fermentation until they hit the magic mark of 50.  The Notes supposes that it really is all in the perspective that one has as they approach this dynamic crossroad of their lives.  It is so easy to think that things were better in the past, while what we tend to embrace is the nostalgia, not the reality of our past. 

Many of the men and women of the Bible did not fulfill their destiny until they were old, in some cases very old.  It is easy to argue that these people had a different life, after all they were only separated from creation by hundreds of years, not thousands right?  What if however, God's intentions were for them to be at a point where they were mature enough to handle the calling He had for their lives?  John the Apostle was in his 90's when God revealed to him incredible future events.  We know it as the Book of Revelation.  At 92, John the beloved wrote what is considered one of the most discussed and debated books in the Bible.  This was at a time when the average life expectancy was far less than 92.  Most scholars believe that age to be in the 40s.  Imagine that....middle age at the time of Jesus was about 20 years old.  We have very little with which to complain.

That being said and according to Timbuk 3:  "The Future's So Bright...I Gotta Where Shades" (I hear a future Tuesday's Musical Notes in the making).  Opportunities abound for those who are willing to take advantage of this time of their lives.  According to US News and World Report, 60% of accredited, degree-granting educational institutions offer tuition waivers for older adults (http://money.usnews.com/money/articles/2009/04/20/forget-tuition-how-retirees-can-attend-college-for-free)  Churches around the world need seasoned, experienced workers to spread the Gospel to the next generation.  Perhaps even the church you attend needs you, have you asked lately?  There is much that God has planned for our lives.  Our task is to use our natural skills and God given spiritual gifts to bring glory to the One who has a place planned for us to truly retire.  Our work in glorifying Him will never cease...it will just change venues...  a man walks down the street, it's a street in a strange world.... He says, "Amen....Hallelujah!"

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

 

 

 

 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Carry OWayward Son" (Kansas)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  Tuesday's Musical Notes Awaits....let's begin..carry on...go man go...


1976 was a really big year.  The United States celebrated the bicentennial (the 200-year celebration of our nation's founding).  This was met by constant media coverage as the country counted down to July 4th.  In 1976, the graduating class of 1982 would be graduating from the 6th grade, and in our town that meant moving on to Jr. High. 

The Fall of that year found the space shuttle Enterprise rolling out of its hangar and a presidential election that would see a peanut farmer from Georgia moving into the big house at 1600 Pennsylvania.  More importantly, a song would reach #11 on the charts that would be the first of several charting singles over 40 years of recording and touring for this band from Topeka.  From 1976's Leftoverture, here's Kansas with "Wayward Son":

"Wayward Son" - Kansas

Kansas has its share of "wayward sons".  The band lineup would change 16 times over the course of the history of the band.  This would include completely disbanding in 1984-1985, reforming in 1986, and changing lineups 4 times in 1991 alone.  Their last album, Somewhere To Elsewhere, would be released in 2000 while their current lineup (which has changed twice since Somewhere To Elsewhere) continues to tour for their loyal fans (called Wheatheads) since forming in 2006. With this lack of continuity, it is a wonder that the "wayward sons" of Kansas have been able to "carry on" at all.

One of the most popular stories that Jesus tells in the Gospels is that of another "wayward son".  It is a parable that is meant to illustrate how God the Father is waiting for His "lost" sons to come back to Him after their "fall".  Countless sermons, Sunday School Lessons, and Vacation Bible School lessons have been written about the lost son, the temptations that the lost son faced, a forgiving father, and an unforgiving brother, and how all of their stories intertwined to demonstrate God's long-suffering with His children who sometimes realize how good they have it in the Father's house.  The Notes does not wish to rehash the entire story but to draw out portions that perhaps haven't already received focus from pulpits and felt boards.  Here is Luke 15 from the Holman Christian Standard Bible:

 Luke 15


First of all, notice that the prodigal son story is the last of a trilogy.  It is the finale of the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.  Can you think of other 3s in the Bible? Here is a great article about the number 3 and its use in the Bible:

The Use Of 3 In The Bible

As this article explains, three is considered a holy number.  Examples include the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Jesus being in the tomb for 3 days. The number 3 and the number 7 are considered numbers that signify completion. 

Notice also that Luke's Gospel says that the younger brother "squandered all he had on foolish living".  Now, before we cast stones while living in a glass house, we all can probably remember times when our utilization of resources wasn't the smartest.  So many times when this story is told, we get the feeling that he had buddies or friends that encouraged him to "blow" his money.  The Bible says that "he" squandered all he had.  Personal responsibility is something that seems to be lost in our current society.  It is so easy to blame our current situation on someone other than ourselves when the reality of the situation usually is....we made the decisions that got us where we are.  The prodigal son finally came to that point....corncobs anyone?

Also, much has been said about the father in our story watching for his son.  He waited expectantly for his son to return home.  He wasn't waiting to tell the son "I told you so", he was waiting to embrace the son and welcome him home.  All of this is a wonderful picture of our redemption given by our heavenly Father.  But little has been said about the other characters in our story at this time.  The servants were told to prepare a feast and bring new clothes.  What must they have thought about this situation?  Were they astonished at the spoiling of the returning son?  Were they surprised that they would now be serving the lost son again?  Regardless of what they thought, they were given an example of how you are to regard those who return home after making mistakes in their lives.  They were treated to a bountiful display of mercy and love beyond their imaginings.  One would expect that some of them would have learned a great deal from this beautiful scene played out before their very eyes. 

Finally, when redemption occurs, not everyone will be happy.  The older brother, who was now heir to everything that was left, was not happy about his brother being alive but was frustrated about the reception and special treatment his brother received.  This is like so many who see transformation in their friends and then turn their backs on them.  They want no part of the new life that God has given their friend or relative.  They just know that there is something "special" about that person that wasn't there before, something that now sets them apart from other folks.  We are not told in the story if the older brother ever repented.  That wasn't Jesus' purpose for the parable. 

With the band Kansas, many of its former members came back.  Doubtless, they were welcomed back for a season.  With time, tensions that were the very reason for the initial departure come back and another departure becomes the resolution.  The difference between Kansas and the prodigal is that once the prodigal returned home, his father wouldn't let him go and more than likely, he never wanted to be gone either.  Perhaps his father told him something like this...

"Lay your weary head to rest....don'tcha ya cry no more...."


For your consideration...The Prodigal Son as told by Keith Green: (this one is a little long, but well worth the time)

"The Prodigal Son Suite"

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy