Semisonic - "Closing Time"
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)
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
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