Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Frankenstein" (Edgar Winter Group)

Good Tuesday!!!  Welcome to the Halloween edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Nothing scary here!  No crazy hockey masks, or Elm Streets....only great rock-n-roll with a twist.  What better way to enjoy a Tuesday than to tell the story of a song about a story that was made into movie...well, several movies with differing and sometimes comedic perspectives on the tale of a doctor who thinks he has found a way to invent life and the trials that come with the success of his tests....(best Gene Wilder voice...."That's Frankenstein").  As early as 1826, Victor Frankenstein's story began being told on stage and in 1910 Edison studios did the first movie imagining of the 1818 novel by Mary Shelly.  The most famous incarnation of the story comes in the form of 1931's Frankenstein. Boris Karloff ingratiated himself in the horror genre of film making by playing the monster to Colin Clives' Victor Frankenstein.  

"It's Alive" - Frankenstein 1931

 

In May of 1973 a band would release an all instrumental track that would take its name from the way the band spliced (yep, razor blade and splicing tape instead of Garage Band), the best parts of their recorded jam session into a consolidated sounding single.  It would remain at #1 for only 1 week, but would be heard annually in October as Halloween approached.  It was aptly titled...."Frankenstein".  So,"pilot of the airwaves, here is my request"....give me a funky #1 instrumental with a take on a classic horror story........

"Frankenstein" - Edgar Winter Group

  The "Frankenstein" incarnation of the Edgar Winter group would be an amalgam of well known rock artists.  Edgar Winter ("Free Ride"), Rick Derringer ("Rock-n-Roll, Hoochie Koo"), Dan Hartman ("I Can Dream About You") and session drummer Chuck Ruff.  Billboard magazine would list "Frankenstein" as one of the top 25 instrumentals of all time.  If you pay close attention to the ending credits of movies you will occasionally see an Edgar Winter group song as a supporting member of the cast of musical groups.

Walking down the path of Jesus, there are times when we encounter difficulties.  During those times we make many choices.  Do we continue on path before us?  Do we turn around?  Personally, I have many times chosen door 3.  TAKE A DETOUR.  I try to avoid the difficulties and thus condemn myself to either not being complete in my task, or achieving the task in a way in which sacrifices principles and beliefs.  In essence, I have attempted to create a better way than the way that is set out before me.  I have, if you will "Frakensteined", the process of my walk.  I choose the parts of path that I want to take and when hard times come, I take another route, therby piecing together a less than perfect model of how I should have traveled.  Jesus did a much better job explaining this "Frankensteining" of our lives when He encountered a rich young ruler:

Matthew 19:16-26 NASB

The Message paraphrase puts this passage like this:

Matthew 19:16-26

The Message (MSG)

¹⁶ Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
¹⁷ Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”
^18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?”
Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
²⁰ The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
²¹ “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”
²² That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.
^23-24 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”
²⁵ The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”
²⁶ Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

In short, this young man wanted to be a disciple of Jesus, only he wanted to do it his way.  Anytime we do anything in our own power or our own way, we are destined to be less than what we could be with Jesus as the ultimate authority over EVERYTHING in our lives.  Ultimately, when we pick and choose from the lifeless ways of the world to attempt to create a life filled way, we find ourselves very much like Victor Frankenstein....facing a monster that just won't seem to go away.

'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Shining Star" (Earth, Wind, And Fire)

Welcome to the smooth funk of Tuesday!!!! It's time for the Notes baby's and have we got a show for you today!!!  Beats with horns throwin' down your way and all of it for just the price of the time it takes you to read it!  Let's get the groove on with this happenin' little ditty from 1975 and our friends at The Midnight Special....Here is Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn and the rest of Earth, Wind and Fire wishing on a little "Shining Star"...

"Shining Star" - Earth, Wind, And Fire

Their music is genre busting.  If it is popular form of music, Earth, Wind, and Fire have written and performed it to Grammy winning success and fans around the world.  They have received 20 Grammy nominations (winning 6 times as a group). The first came concurrently with their first #1 single on the Pop and R&B charts...."Shining Star".  This song from 1975's #5 album, That's The Way Of The World, would catapult EWF to popular music's mainstream and elevate them to setting the standard for super groups to come.  With the Phenix Horns as the backdrop for rhythm and vocals, Earth, Wind, and Fire continues touring and producing albums that are fan favorites across musical spectra.

God's Word has much to say about light.  God spoke light into existence as He separated it from the darkness and saw that it was good.  In every translation and paraphrase of the Bible, God calls the light "good", but says nothing about the darkness.  As you read the Genesis account of creation, God makes broad comments that envelope everything that He has just created and calls it all "good".  Yet, other than to call the darkness "night", God places no commentary on it.  Since that separation, light has been seen as an analogy of goodness and virtue, conversely, darkness has been seen as an analogy of evil and wickedness.  The illumination of God's Word breaks the darkness of our fallen state.  Jesus even thought that light was a good illustration as He places His example strategically in The Sermon On The Mount:

Matthew 5:14-16

What does this passage mean?  We must read it in the context of Jesus, whose main mission on earth was to glorify God by giving Himself as a ransom to redeem the fallen.  At the point of our redemption, we become as one of the lights that God placed in the heavens.  Their purpose was to separate and obliterate the darkness in their area of influence and thereby bring glory to God.  We are much like the earth at creation.  Until God interacts in our lives we are formless and void.  God then speaks light into our life and it causes a separation from the darkness.    The difference between us and creation is that we get to chose that which surrounds us.  Even as the redeemed we sometimes make poor decisions and find ourselves in the middle of the struggle of the light against the darkness.  We must remember that this place is not our home.  This world of darkness will one day be replaced by a world of eternal light.  Yet, while we are here, if we claim the  moniker of Christ follower, we must be aware that the darkness is watching for its opportunity to take us over.  We must battle against the "good" distractions that keep us from doing the "best" deeds.  Are you talented in some area?  Perhaps you are an eloquent speaker.  You should speak for the light.  Perhaps your talent lies in the area of music.  You should play or sing skillfully for the light.  The list can go on and on.  What we do with our lives after our "Jesus experience" reflects whom we truly serve. At this point, the light of God in our lives implores us to unmistakeably reveal Jesus to everyone we encounter. Do the actions, tasks, work, and service we do reflect and glorify God?  Do they unmistakeably reveal Jesus?  If not, why not?  That's what we're here for....to be a shining star....no matter who you are...shining bright to see...what you can truly be.....what you can truly be.....

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Separate Ways (World's Apart)" (Journey)

Good Tuesday to ya friend and welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes.  The place where time keeps on slippin' into the future and God's love endures forever.  We have a lot to do today together so.....

 

"Won't You Be My Neighbor"

Perhaps you have heard an older person reflect, "things just seemed simpler back then....".  Maybe you have had similar thoughts recently.  While many things have transitioned into the complicated, (a fine example is the 3 ring circus in Washington, D.C. these days.....all are equally responsible, Democrats, Republicans, and the President and should be held accountable), there are many ways in which the day we live is simpler than the way our ancestors lived.  Let's face it, with regards to communication....we are living in the age of Star Trek today.  We don't have to gingerly pick up our rotary dial telephone and listen carefully to see if someone is already using our party line.  That's progress into simplicity.  Hooray!!! However, when it comes to interpersonal relationships, pride and selfishness have never seemed to go out of style (again, refer to Washington, D.C.).  While we struggle to get along, some times we must conclude that the best thing for both parties in particular personal relationships is for them to go their separate ways....

"Separate Ways (World's Apart)" - Journey

If you listen to critics, Journey's "Separate Ways (World's Apart)" video is the worst video of all time.  The Notes tends to disagree with most critical assessments propagated by "popular" writers of movie, book, and music reviews and disagrees in the critique of the above video.  Let's face it, however, when it comes to Journey, the discussion should always be about the music.

Neal Schon continues to be known as one of the top rock guitarists on the planet.  In 1973, he and Gregg Rolie had just left Santana.  They found themselves partnering with Ross Valory and George Tickner of the band Frumious Bandersnatch, (a character from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky poem) to form the band that would eventually become Journey.  Flash forward to 2013 and you find Neal Schon still leading the band as they continue to produce records and tour.   

The most successful incarnation of Journey would come in the 80's as they would release album after album of top 40 hits. While Journey had 5 top 10 albums on Billboard's album charts, (the latest would be in 2008 with Revelation), they never reached #1 with a single.  "Open Arms" from 1981's, Escape, would go as high as #2 and stay there for 6 weeks.  Escape would pave the way for 1983's Frontiers album which would peak at #2 on the album chart and feature a song that would become a staple in roller rinks across the nation.

"Separate Ways (World's Apart)" tells the story of an amicable break up between two folks who can't seem to come together about the direction of their relationship.  It features the most popular configuration of Journey with Neal Schon on lead guitar, Steve Perry on lead vocals, Steve Smith on drums, Ross Valory on bass, and Jonathan Cain on keyboards.  This would be the makeup of Journey during its peak.  

Journey is a band that you rarely hear about its members fighting.  There are 20 musicians, however, who have toured or recorded with Neal Schon and company.  This causes one to wonder why they may have gone their.....wait for it.....separate ways. The answer is simple, it is who we are as humans in a fallen world.  Even Bible patriarchs weren't professionals when it came to relationships with other folks. 

The Bible tells us that due to Cain's pride, he murdered his brother and had to leave the Presence of the Lord (Genesis 4)  Abram and his nephew Lot had to separate due to the overcrowding of the fields and the infighting of their servants. (Genesis 13).  Acts 15 tells of the conversations and debates that occurred in the early church.  Yep, even Peter and the gang argued at business meetings.  The chapter ends with Paul, the great missionary and Barnabas, the great encourager, separating due to their disagreement regarding John Mark.  (Acts 15)  Is this they way God wants us to be?  I really doubt it, but again in a fallen world, where perfection has been eliminated, (the exception being Jesus), we have to do the very best that we can to swallow our pride and shackle our selfishness so that our interpersonal relationships are fluid and fruitful.  There will be times when the best thing to do would be to agree that you disagree and separate.  Otherwise both parties will succumb to a relationship that is toxic and destructive.  This is never God's plan. 

I recently read an article by Glen Packiam who is the lead pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He was talking about the history of worship with specific regards to the Jesus Movement of the late '60s and early 70's.  He used a phrase to describe our challenge as Christ followers today that stuck with me.  Packiam related that our task as believers is to "unmistakeably reveal Jesus" to everyone in which we come in contact.  Pride, jealousy, and selfishness would never be a consideration if our lives reflected this attitude.  I confess, I haven't lived my life in this manner.  Perhaps you can say the same.  There are people who I have encountered that I have no relationship with now, because I haven't lived a life in this fashion.  Maybe you have too....perhaps you were just reminded of that person.  The relationship may never be restored, however, it is incumbent upon us to forgive and pray for that person.  We may continue going our separate ways, but through forgiveness and intense prayer for that person, we can break those chains that bind you...... 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Human" (The Human League)

Good Tuesday to ya friend!!!  Welcome to this week's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! 

Have you ever had one of THESE kind of days?

"Humans" - Liberty Mutual Commercial

 
"Humans" -Amatuer Athletes - Liberty Mutual Comercial 

If you have please consider yourself part of the family!!!  The family of humans.  We encounter our humanity every day it seems.  Some of us even encounter it multiple times per day.  This doesn't make us accident prone or a jinx, and let's face it karma is something that doesn't really even belong in a believer's vocabulary.  It seems as humans we were born to make mistakes.....

"Humans" - The Human League

 

 

In 1979 The Human League would release their first album.   Reproduction featured an all male lineup of instrumentalists and vocalists and was one of the reasons the band became known as part of an eclectic group that would be the originators of what would eventually become Electronica.   Aided by the new technological advances in synthesizers and drum machines, The Human League would begin a musical career that is still going today.

The peak of The Human League's popularity came in 1981, when their album Dare was released in the United Kingdom.  It would set the standard for the '80s synthpop sound and be the standard by which all future Human League albums would be judged.  Their biggest hit was the last track to the album and one the band felt was the weakest.  "Don't You Want Me" went to #1 in December of 1981 with the support of its heavily rotated MTV music video.  Dare and "Don't You Want Me" would continue to reign on the charts bolstered by its release in the United States in 1982.

Reeling from the success of Dare, the band released the EP Hysteria, to keep fans plugged into The Human League while they worked on their next full length album.  After some tensions during the production of Dare, The Human League tapped Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, fresh off of their success with Janet Jackson's Control album, to produce the follow up.  In doing so, the band gave up alot of control over song selection and royalties as some of the tracks were written by Jam and Lewis.  Crash released in 1986. While Crash provided the #1 track "Human", the album failed to live up to the expectations of fans and critics alike.  

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth."  This is how the Bible begins what many believe is the "human" story.  Genesis 1 is familiar to many around the world as the story of creation.  Man is created in verse 27.  In verse 31 the Bible tells us that God called all that He had created, "good".  Imagine that.  The God of perfection called us and everything else in this world "good".  As we look around the landscape of our world, I'm not so sure we can call it "good" in the same terms that God defined it at creation.  Yes, there are many good aspects to our world, yet, they are all a dull image in comparison to that one time in our history where God called it all "good".   So what happened?  As the song says, we're only humans right? After the expulsion from Eden, God never refers to humans as "good" ever again.  This is tragic.  Perhaps this is where the phrase "we're only human" originated.  While reading the creation and the fall stories, it would be easy for us to judge Adam and Eve for their poor judgement and blame the enemy for his temptations.  But we must realize that each day of our lives, we have the opportunity to do our part in reclaiming Eden.  Paul calls this the "renewing of our minds" in Romans 12:1-3.  Each day we must realize that the reason Adam and Eve sinned was because they took their eyes off of the creator and placed their eyes on themselves.  Every day we must realize that while the Bible is a historical, poetical, and prophetical piece of literature, it is primarily the story of reclaiming Eden through the sacrifice of Jesus.  It enables us, as we read it, to realize God's standard of what is "good". Then base our lives on that standard.  Yes, we will make mistakes but because the Bible is the story of God's redemptive power, we are still loved and forgiven if we will only believe......in-spite of the fact that we're only human....

 

 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Closing Time" (Semisonic)

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes where we are coming to you tape delayed on location from the 2nd story offices of Trinity Baptist Church.  It's an overcast day here at the church as we find our mild mannered blogger churning away at this week's look into popular music and The Word.  Let's take a look inside and see what we find......

Semisonic - "Closing Time"

There can be numerous analogies drawn between gatherings at clubs or bars and the gatherings each week at churches.  None are coming to your mind?  Let's think this through.  People gather to meet other people who have interests similar to theirs.  Sometimes they eat, drink favorite beverages and many times relationships begin or are reinforced. Because most pubs are closed on Sundays until noon (they legally can not sell alcohol before that time), some churches are even meeting in empty bars on Sunday mornings to "redeem" the space.  Here is one example of such a nontraditional church:

Bar Church Abilene

How about re-imagining the "Theme Song to Cheers" as a church song...click and close your eyes...

"Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

People all around the world are seeking relationships with others.  They are looking for friends.  Why can't the church be that place?   Please do not get the torches ready and claim that we have committed the ultimate sacrilege.  I don't consume alcohol.  That is a personal choice that I have made.  I can't find anything in the Book of Truth, The Bible, that condemns alcohol consumption however.  There is however this warning about consuming too much and the follow up encouragement about what we should be taking in.....

 

Ephesians 5:17-20

 

The Message (MSG)

¹⁷ Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
^18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.


There are occasions in the Bible where the people of God have gotten drunk....most of the time, it did not turn out so good for them...but this particular note is not about vices...it's about choices and who you want to take you home...the eternal kind of home.

In 1999, I was introduced to alternative, 3 man band Semisonic.  They had the title track from the soundtrack, For Love Of The Game.  Ok movie, but in my humble opinion...killer soundtrack.  I mentioned this to a coworker and their reply was did you ever hear Semisonic's "real" hit.  It only went as high as #11 in 1998, but "Closing Time" put the band on the map.  It has been featured in several motion pictures as well as being a part of the backdrop for many television shows.  While Semisonic hasn't recorded a new studio album since 2001's All About Chemistry, their continual appearance in many media outlets keeps their music fresh and the listening public at least curious about this American band.

In December of 2012, The Notes featured the apocalyptic tune, "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", by REM.  The Mayan Calendar was heating up internet space and many were discussing the end of times.  You can find the blog here:  

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "It's The End Of The World As We Know It"

The Notes tends to think that "Closing Time" is a much more interesting end of world analogy.  Think about it.  As Christians, we should be longing for the time when we meet Jesus who will take us home to the place he has prepared for us.  Paul even talks about our spirits groaning for the time when Jesus will come:  Romans 8:22-24 NASB

We may very well be living in the times of a last call.  If you pay attention it is easy to see prophecy being fulfilled in the headlines of our news feeds and media streams.  The urgency on our generation has never been greater.  Yes, in the end Jesus will win the war between good and evil, but there are many battles in which we must engage before the victory is complete. We still have much work to do.  Christian musician Keith Green once challenged folks at a concert by telling them:

Keith Green talks about sharing the Gospel.

Wow.  That's pretty huge.  Did you get that?  We are responsible for the people in which we come in contact.  What message have you given them?

Paul says in his first letter to the church of the Thessalonians:

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New American Standard Bible)

There is another destination for those who are not part of the community described above.  It is a place of separation from anything that is good and pure.  It is a place where God will never reside.  It is a place that is described very well in the Bible. (For an in-depth look click here: 

 What Does The Bible Say About Hell


God desires a relationship with us.  The Bible says that Jesus was sent because God loves us so much.  (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).  Every person who has ever lived has missed the mark of perfection. (Romans 3:23)  Jesus was sent because our sin, the wrong that we do in our lives, has a price.  (Romans 6:23).  Jesus paid this price forever with His own life. (2 Corinthians 5:21).  If you call on Jesus, believe that He did all of this for you, and tell others that you believe it, you will be saved from eternal separation from the Creator of all things, God.(Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10).  Is this something you would like to do now?  I would love to share with you how.  Email me at r.cross@sbcglobal.net.


Ultimately, the choice is ours.  People every day are getting their "last call" because their closing time is approaching.  There will also be a day when the entire world's closing time will come. 

 On that day, do you know who you want to take you home?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy