Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Final Countdown" (Europe)

Welcome to the last Tuesday of 2013 and the last Tuesday's Musical Notes of the year!!!  I want to thank you for your weekly trips to the land of music and ministry.  Each week we have met together with a song stuck in our head and a message stuck in our heart.  Hopefully, we have learned together and grown in the ways of the Master.  This is a special week on the Musical Notes as we countdown the 10 most read blog posts since Tuesday's Musical Notes came online.  But before we begin, we have got to get that synthesizer lick out of our head.  So we launch today's Musical Notes with a #8 hit from 1986...it's the Swedish band Europe with..."The Final Countdown"

Europe - "The Final Countdown"

Since July of 2012, Tuesday's Musical Notes has been offering a weekly dose of nostalgia with music from our past.  This music has acted as a springboard into discussions of matters of a more eternal nature.  Hopefully, you have found the Notes to be a refuge of encouragement.  Today's Notes are a bit different in that we will be featuring the links to the most read Tuesday's Musical Notes since its inception in 2012.  It makes it more of a "year and a half" look back at the Notes that you the reader have discovered. We have attempted to update the youtube links, but if you can't get one to work, use the 'ol copy and paste routine and pull up the video.  Some of them can be a whole lotta fun!!!  Thanks again for joining us each week... as Casey Kasem would say..."Let's get on with the countdown".

At #10 is the Musical Note that was written in the '60s for a movie and became a theme song for a team.  It is used in virtually every Arkansas Razorback sporting event and was originally blogged on August 28, of 2012.  At #10 is The 1984 edition of the Marching Razorback Band, including yours truly in the video, with The Swing March:

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Swing March"

Coming in at #9 on our year end countdown of the top read Tuesday's Musical Notes, is the 1966 song made popular by the duo Simon and Garfunkel.  It would later be recorded by the group Harper's Bizarre who would take it as high as #13 on the Billboard Charts in 1967.  Here is "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" blog from January 18, 2013:

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

Next up is the blog that is featured at #8 in our end of the year countdown.  It features the classic Bob Dylan song, "The Times They Are A Changin'" and went into the blogosphere on January 22, 2013.  At #8, "The Times They Are A Changin'":

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Times They Are A Changin'"

Going back to August 7 of 2012, we find the Musical Note based on Bryan Adam's smash hit, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".  You may notice that at the end of many of the Musical Notes there is a video from Christian artists as well.  Keith Green seems to be the go to guy for the end of the blog video.  Our blog at #7 has Green's "He'll Take Care Of The Rest" tagged at the end.  From the 1992 hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" and the blog from the fall of 2012, here is our #7 blog on our way to #1:

 Tuesday's Musical Notes - "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You"

Each week as the Notes are written, we find ourselves curious about just how many people will wind up reading it.  According to our stats, we have had people from almost 20 different countries view Tuesday's Musical Notes.  How many people read The Notes many times is dependent on the song of the week, as with the case on our #6 blog in our countdown.  Written on December 3, 2013, "Give A Little Bit" became the most read blog in the shortest period of time since The Notes have been a blog.  Here is the link for the blog inspired by one of Supertramp's biggest hits:

 Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Give A Little Bit"

We're half way on our trek up the musical blog trail to #1.  Tuesday's Musical Notes began as an email to friends and church members in February of 2011.  Occasionally we will refresh one of those emails and us it as the blog for the week. There are close to 60 Tuesday's Musical Notes that have never been blogs.   Keep looking for those throughout the year.  The very first Tuesday's Musical Note was an original blog based on the Kenny Loggins song "I'm Alright".  We thought you might enjoy this flashback to that Musical Note, but before that, let's take a look at the reimagining of the song from the television show, The Sing Off.  This show features 10 acapella singing groups in a contest for a record contract and $100,000.  Here are 2 of this season's contestants, The Philharmonic and this year's winner Home Free with the classic Kenny Loggins hit. Following that is the first Tuesday's Musical Note blog, "I'm Alright".

Home Free and Philharmonic - "I'm Alright"

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Alright"

That was a look at the very first blog post for Tuesday's Musical Notes, featuring Kenny Loggins hit from the movie Caddyshack, "I'm Alright". 

And now on with the countdown.

At #5 is the solo hit from the Eagles, Joe Walsh.  Walsh has a very successful solo career apart from the Eagles. His song "Life's Been Good" has been his biggest chart topper.  The blog appeared in the January 15, 2013 edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes...here is "Life's Been Good", the blog:

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Life's Been Good"

As we entered into 2013, Tuesday's Musical Notes pondered the best song for the new year.  There was an easy answer in the form of Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band.  Coming in at #4 on our end of the year countdown of the top 10 Musical Notes is the reflection of life on the road and an analogy of going into a New Year, here is "Turn The Page", 2013's first Musical Note:

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Turn The Page"

So far we've counted down the top 7 Tuesday's Musical Note's blogs since the blog's inception in July of 2012.  If you are curious as to what some of the other featured songs may be, just go to http://tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com/ and check out the archive on the right hand side of the screen.  There you will find all of The Notes by the date the blog hit the web.  Thanks again for reading and now on with the countdown.  

Number 3!!!  Time and how it is spent is a recurring theme throughout Tuesday's Musical Notes.  #3 on the countdown features the world wide smash hit by the band Asia, "Only Time Will Tell".  The blog came out on August 6th of 2013 and features the 1982 (have I told you what a great year that was?) hit from Asia.  This band will release it 14th studio album in 2014 and continues to tour 33 years after its formation.  Including a very familiar "Byrd" like passage of scripture and The Beatitudes here is the blog that is the answer to many questions in the cosmos...

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Only Time Will Tell"

Hopefully as you read Tuesday's Musical Notes you get surprised by some of the information that you read.  In doing the research for each week's traipse down the syncopated highway of music, I am often surprised by who played on who's album, or who actually wrote the song that another artist made into a hit.  Some of the most read blogs have been equally surprising as they have been a "generational" song from the past.  #2 on our countdown is such a surprise.  While many of the songs featured in The Notes are from the late 70's through the early 90's, this song is the oldest song on the countdown. It was originally released in 1933 and was featured in 2 major motion pictures of the 1940's.  Carefully take a moment to thoroughly read through this blog.  Every day one's eternal destination can be confirmed.  This blog tells you why and how.  Take your pick with either Bing Crosby or Fred Astaire singing the song, here is "Easter Parade", the #2 read blog at Tuesday's Musical Notes:

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Easter Parade"

And now we come to #1, but before we do, let's recap the top 10 with their artists and original posting dates:

10) "The Swing March" - Henry Mancini - August 28, 2012

 9) "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" - Simon and Garfunkel - January 18, 2013

 8) "The Time's They Are A Changin'" - Bob Dylan - January 22, 2013

 7) "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" - Bryan Adams - August 7, 2012

 6) "Give A Little Bit" - Supertramp - December 3, 2013

 5) "Life's Been Good" - Joe Walsh - January 15, 2013

 4) "Turn The Page" - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band - January 1, 2013

 3) "Only Time Will Tell" - Asia - August 6, 2013

 2) "Easter Parade" - Bing Crosby - March 26, 2013

And now #1...

Most of the times, Tuesday's Musical Notes will steer clear of the "it" topic of the day.  But back in July of 2012, Tuesday's Musical Notes spoke directly to a highly controversial topic.  The CEO of Chic-Fil-A made some comments that were in similar vein as those of Duck Dynasty's Phil Roberson regarding his thoughts on sin.  Tuesday's Musical Notes decided to utilize a Beatles tune to highlight what the Bible has to say regarding sin and sinners.  Whether it was the tune selection or the topic selection, this blog became the most read in all of Tuesday's Musical Notes land.  With the #1 read blog on Tuesday's Musical Notes...from July 31, 2012 here is "All You Need Is Love" the blog.

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "All You Need Is Love"

And there you have it, the most read blog posts at Tuesday's Musical Notes since its beginnings as a blog in May of 2012.  We hope that you clicked on the links for each of the top 10 and considered the thoughts that are brought out in each one.  We are incredibly excited and ready to see what another year of Tuesday's Musical Notes has in store.  We hope you will continue to read these random thoughts surrounded by reflective songs and reactive scripture.  We hope you will recommend The Notes to friends and neighbors who may love music and need a restored relationship with the Father.  Most of all, our hope for you in 2014 is to be ready to do the good works that He has already planned for you and to continue to daily work out your salvation.  

I began listening to rock-n-roll in 1981.  My previous musical diet had been the classic country that I enjoyed with my folks.  I was introduced to 50's and 60's rock-n-roll by a radio program called appropriately enough "Old Time Rock-N-Roll" on what was KKYK 103.7 in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday afternoons during the summer of '81.  The radio program that aired afterword would change my life.  That program was American Top 40 with Casey Kasem.  It included long distance dedications and information that you would not get just by listening to the regular radio programming and it counted down from 40 - 1 the top popular musical hits in the land.  I was immediately hooked and began listening to Casey as often as I possibly could.  I soon found out that he voiced the cartoon character "Shaggy" on Scooby-Doo which increased my opinion of how cool this man must be.  I listened intently to every hour of the Top 40 in 1982 when "Bette Davis Eyes" was named the #1 song of the year.  In the following years, college and then married life changed the priorities of what to listen to on the radio.  American Top 40 was replaced by Disney's Kids songs, Fred Penner, or Sharon, Lois and Bram. While Tuesday's Musical Notes never seeks to be a "countdown" blog of the latest hits,  you may recognize similar attributes of Tuesday's Musical Notes on occasion that were gleamed from years of waiting for the #1 song on the charts.  On July 5th of 2009, Casey stopped doing what was then called "Amercian Top 20" broadcasts.  With his signature sign off, an era of radio entertainment and musical excellence passed.  Tuesday's Musical Notes would like to end it's end of the year countdown with this request and dedication:  Here with some of the last moments from the final show of "American Top 20" is Casey Kasem:

American Top 20 with Casey Kasem - July 5th, 2009

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Please Come Home For Christmas" (Eagles)

Merry Christmas and welcome to The Christmas Eve Musical Notes!!!  I hope that your stockings are hung by the chimney with care and there's goodies to eat and enjoy everywhere!!!  I hope that your family can join in celebrating the season, 'cause Christmas is here and Jesus is the reason!!!   Merry Christmas and Welcome to The Notes!!!

Believe it or not, our song o' the day was written back in 1960 by none other than....wait for it.....Charlie Brown.  Well, actually Charles Brown the blues singer/songwriter wrote and recorded the song in 1960.  By 1961 it was gaining traction and hit the charts.  It has become an annual seasonal favorite since that time.  In my opinion, however, the best recording would have to be by the Eagles.  Originally recorded in 1978, the song would soon become considered the Eagles contribution to the season.  Charting as high as #18 on Billboard's Hot 100, here is "Please Come Home For Christmas" by the Eagles:

"Please Come Home For Christmas" - Eagles

Why do you celebrate Christmas?  Is your motivation family and friends?  Perhaps a little time off from work?  Are you the generous sort and love to give gifts....or maybe just the opposite and love to get stuff?  There's nothing wrong with any of these things.  Christians point back to a manger.  Atheists point to peace and good will. Many more will be somewhere in the middle.  Which are you friend?  Why do you celebrate Christmas?  What do you truly believe?

This Christmas, I really think God has the blues.  Choirs are singing Silent Night, yet lives remain unchanged by the message of the manger.  Christmas carols by candlelight, but the light of the star is not seen by people all over the world.  Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues.  

Let me remind you that the purpose of the Notes is not to proselytize you into my religion.  The purpose of the Notes is to share the trivial alongside of the important.  We never want to debase the important, but want to highlight it by use of the "interesting" things in popular culture and music.  Hopefully, you are entertained as well as enlightened...encouraged as well as engaged.

So again, The Notes poses this question:  Why do you celebrate Christmas?  Your motivations for celebrating really come down to 1 of 2 thought processes or world views.  You either believe that The Bible is God's Word, sent to restore our broken relationship with Him or you don't.  If you are really honest with yourself, you will find there can be no middle ground on this particular fact.  This is a decision you have to make at some point.  Please come home for Christmas...  But let's see what the world view of the average American is...  In a 2011 study by Gallup, they found that 1/3 of Americans believe that every jot and tittle of the Bible is true.

 (Gallup poll - 3 in 10 Americans Take the Bible Literally). 

The converse of this would be that 2/3 of Americans do not believe everything in the Bible is true.  Oh what a Christmas to have the blues...

The Washington Post recently printed an article, complete with some really cool maps, that show religions in the US.

 (Washington Post - Religion by State and County 6 maps).

 

The fastest growing segment of religion is...no religion at all or what is being called "nones". So won't you tell me, you'll never more roam...

But this is Christmas, Christmas my dear, the time of year to be with the ones you love...and there is the reason God has the blues.  According to the above articles, the ones that God loves don't necessarily want to be with Him. 

Regardless of how you personally relate to the above articles, there is a "thread" that permeates the Bible that you should know.  A thread that could have an eternal impact on this Christmas and every Christmas from now on:  

God created everything.  This includes men and women.  He created them so He could have a relationship with them.  Have you ever had a relationship that went south?  Yep, so has God.  The relationship between God and mankind was destroyed because Adam and Eve rebelled against God.  Now this wasn't like they declared war on Him or anything, but they disobeyed His guidelines.  Have you ever seen a child disobey their parents, or an employee disobey the operating standards of their employer?  What does that do to the relationship between them?  Well, God created everything perfect and when Adam and Even disobeyed, they became imperfect.  They could no longer be in God's Presence.  Everyone was hurt in the destruction of this relationship. I am just like Adam and Eve.  I am not perfect and my relationship with God needed restoration as well. But God had a plan from before the time He created everything.  He would send someone to earth to restore the relationship.  That restorer was Jesus.  Christmas time for many is a celebration of Jesus coming to earth as a baby.  When He was older, Jesus told about the restoration of the relationship with God and how it could be achieved.  In fact, He gave his life so this message could be told all around the world.  Because of His sacrifice, our relationship with God can be just like it was for Adam and Eve in the garden. After he died by hanging on a cross, Jesus was buried, but there is no one in His tomb today.  You see, Jesus was God in human form.  He died as a human and returned to God.  He died so the perfect relationship between God and man could be restored.  He lives now, acting as our defense attorney to God.  And He asks you:  please come home for Christmas.

That story permeates every line of every verse in the Bible.  So friend, what do you believe?  There are many good messages out there to give us reason to celebrate, but the best reason is restoration!!! If you've never read any of the Bible, let me encourage you to start with the book of Luke.  You can find it here:  Biblegateway.com  Luke has the telling of the Christmas story that Linus reads in "A Charlie Brown Christmas". (see Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Christmas Time Is Here")  There are 3 other perspectives about Jesus life in close proximity to Luke that you should read next:  Matthew, Mark, and John.  For the people who believe this story of restoration, Jesus is preparing a place where... there'll be no more sorrow, no grief or pain, and I'll be happy, Christmas once again. 

   

 

Merry Christmas!!!

You do not want to miss next week's Notes!!!

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy     

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas" (Burl Ives)

Say Hello to friends ya know and everyone you meet!!!  Welcome to Tuesday and the Christmas Musical Notes!!  Now that we have the song in your head...let's just let the Sam sing it to us.  From the 1964 Christmas television special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, here is Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman and the rest of the Red Nosed Reindeer gang:

"Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" - from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Johnny Marks wrote the original song of about Rudolph in 1949 and with the genius of Rankin/Bass productions brought it to life in the very first stop motion animation presentation. It told of the adventures of the Red Nosed Reindeer and how he came to save Christmas.  This form of animation would become cherished by children and adults world wide and is anticipated each year as Christmas specials begin to populate television line ups.  Part of the of appeal these specials  is their positive story lines and the nostalgia provided by the stop motion animation.  In a world of CGI and 3-D Computer graphics, these specials from the 1960's have become to our generation what silent movies were to thirtysomethings in the 1940's and 1950s.  They provide us with a moment to reflect and remember cherished times.  It seems especially fitting around Christmas to pause and take a stop motion minute to reflect from whence we came, where we may be heading, and what we are doing now to impact the next generation.  Hopefully for you....those will be holly, jolly thoughts filled with joy.  Because Christmas is supposed to be a time of good tidings and great joy!!!

One of the criticisms that people give for not reading the Bible or even paying it any mind at all is that it is a critical book that doesn't allow any fun in our lives. Maybe this is something you have even thought.  If so, I would highly recommend reading the Bible cover to cover over the course of the next year or so.  You might find your perspective changing about the "tone" of the Bible.  Something interesting happens when you do a word search on the words "joy" and "sad" in the New American Standard Bible.  If this isn't your Biblical preference, the same thing happens search the same words in the King James Version of the Bible.  When you do the same search in the Biblical paraphrase The Message, the results remain consistent with the findings of the other translations.   In the best selling Bible translation, the New International Version, the results are the same.  The word "joy" is mentioned far more than the word "sad". 

 

 (NASB joy - 211, sad - 12, KJV joy - 187, sad - 10, The Message joy - 124, sad - 13 NIV joy - 242, sad - 9).  

 

This is does not seem like a book that is detailing the life of its disciples as sad, bad lives, but it seems to me it is more descriptive of a holly, jolly life.  In fact, this time of the year with its gift giving, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and even red nosed reindeers, started out with a proclamation of joy:

 

Luke 2:9-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The angelic shouts of joy regarding this baby would continue at an empty tomb where another angelic proclamation would announce the opportunity for restoration of the God/man relationship that was severed in Eden:

Matthew 28:7-9

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁷ Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
⁸ And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

As you can see the Bible is a book that mentions joy quite a bit. Especially when referring to Jesus.  As His disciples, why should we go around with any other kind of demeanor?  So as the shopping deadlines loom...have joy!  When you can't find a parking spot, or someone takes the one you have been waiting for...have joy!  When you don't get everything on your Christmas list...have joy!  When you say "hello" to friends you know and everyone you meet...have joy!  As you sing carols announcing His birth...have joy!  As you witness childlike innocence on Christmas morning...have joy!  As you reminisce about stop motion Christmas specials...have joy!  When you are surrounded by those who may or may not be kin, but love you unconditionally...have joy!!!  As you go about this season, unmistakeably reveal Jesus by having joy!!!  Then, share that joy with others and when asked the reason for your joy, be prepared to explain the restored relationship that Jesus brings and the hope and joy that comes with our salvation.  This Christmas season...have joy...  and in case you didn't hear, Oh by golly, have a holly, jolly Christmas this year!!!

"Joy! (to the World)" - Avalon


'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Christmas Time Is Here" (Vince Guaraldi)

 



Merry Christmas and welcome to Tuesday!!!!

Today's Notes are a reprint of an email sent in December of 2011 to friends and church family.  I hope you enjoy...

     It all began like this......

"Christmas Time Is Here" - From A Charlie Brown Christmas - By Vince Guaraldi

     This popular Christmas classic was written specifically for a cartoon.  It has been covered on Christmas albums since the cartoon aired by almost 20 different artists, who were Jazz or heavily Jazz influenced.  It has never charted as a single on Billboard's Hot 200, but was included as an instrumental as well as vocal on the cartoon's soundtrack, which charted at #13 on Billboard's Christmas chart in 1985, the first year for Billboard's Christmas chart.  The album, including it's many reissue's has gone multi-platinum, selling over 3,295,000 albums since it's release. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.  Not to bad for a Jazz trio on a Christmas cartoon soundtrack.

     On Thursday December 9th, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas, aired for the first time and has been on television during the Christmas season every year since. It's 2013 showing made for it's 48th airing.  Last year it won it's time slot over X-Factor and Survior and it's contract has been extended with ABC through 2020. It's original airing in 1965 preempted The Munsters  and came on before Gilligan's Island. (my, how TV has changed)  It was the first of many  Peanuts television specials that are beloved by kids of all ages.  It has won the Emmy and Peabody awards and was watched by 50% of American televisions on its initial airing.  While it is considered a cultural icon today, television executives in 1965 weren't so enthusiastic.  In fact, A Charlie Brown Christmas, almost didn't make it to the airwaves.  Read the story here:  

USA Today - "The Christmas Classic That Almost Wasn't"

     I don't think Charlie Brown was the first to bemoan the commercialism of this time of year.  There is at least a hint of it in many old Christmas movies.  Some of my favorites include, The Bishop's Wife, A Christmas Carol, White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and  A Miracle On 34th Street.  Like these old movies, many Christmas specials and cable Christmas movies today focus on at least one character whose heart is in the wrong place for the season.  Each one of us have probably succumbed to the temptation of an advertisement.....ever participated in Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or free shipping day?  Yes, I have too. 

     Maybe because I've gotten a little older or have all of the "toys" that I could ever play with, but with each passing year, it seems (for me anyway) to get just a little bit easier to look past the Christmas lights and see the light of one star.  To look past the wrapped gifts and see the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  To look past Santa and see the Savior.  To look past the Christmas tree and see a crucifixion tree.  To look past my exhaustion and look at the angels exultation.  To look at my family and realize that God has not only blessed me with kin, but with brothers and sisters in Christ.  "That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

The ancient prophets wrote and told others about His first coming.  It was miraculous and just exactly as God had told them it would be.  (Messianic Prophecies -bibletruths.net) It is our turn to take up the mantle and tell not only about the celebration of His first coming as a baby, but His next visit to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That event will result in the ultimate Christmas celebration in heaven.  Just like in 1965 when Charles Schultz prevailed and had Linus Van Pelt tell the Christmas story from Luke 2 to a national television audience, let us prevail and be as bold as Linus in telling the Charlie Brown's all around us what Christmas is all about....."Lights Please"

Luke 2 - Linus Van Pelt

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Give A Little Bit" (Supertramp)

 

It's Tuesday!!!  It's December!!!   It's time for the 1st 2013 Christmas Edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Only 29 more shopping days until the last Tuesday's Musical Note of the year!!!  Plans are being made now for a very special, year end edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes that you will not want to miss.  But for right now, welcome to the season where the temps are colder and the tunes are cooler...but first a word from our sponsor....

A Christmas Message

But wait....it's just the beginning!!!  This clip is from the 1947 classic The Bishop's Wife.  I can heartily recommend this seasonal classic as an entertaining as well as thought provoking film.  It focuses on a Bishop's (David Niven) distractions during the Christmas season and the difficulties those are causing for his wife (Loretta Young) and his family.  With a celestial intervention from Dudley the angel (Cary Grant), the bishop soon finds himself and returns back to the true meaning of the season.  Yes that one stocking does seem to be empty, but it doesn't have to be.  Everyone of us has the potential to...."give a little bit"

"Give A Little Bit" - Roger Hodgson of Supertramp

Penned by Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, "Give A Little Bit" is one of a string of singles that made the band Supertramp a daily mention on radios around the globe during the late 70's and into the decade of the 80's.  Supertramp has been making records and touring since 1969.  Roger Hodgson left the band in 1988, but has had a successful series of touring dates and critically acclaimed solo albums.  Rick Davies reformed Supertramp in 1996 with a group of former members as well as  new additions and has been touring ever since.  

Surprisingly, many of Supertramp's albums would be more successful than the singles that were released from those album's.  "Give A Little Bit" would be their first US hit, reaching as high as #15 on the charts in 1977, but the full length album, Even In The Quietest Moments... would eclipse the sales of the single and become the foundation for the next 15 years of success by the band.  Their next album Breakfast In America is the quintessential album owned by most fans of 80's music.  It would also sell more than the singles it produced, "The Logical Song", "Goodbye Stanger", "Breakfast IN America", and "Take The Long Way Home".  But it would be the single about giving to others from '77 that would propel a decade plus worth of successful tours and record sales.

If you ever take the opportunity to watch people, you begin to pick up on trends.  Over the last few years, it seems that the season on which we are about to embark causes extremes in people and their attitudes.  You find folks are either extremely nice and giving, or stressed out and hateful.  There seems to be little room for an in between.  These attitudes appear to get amplified the closer to Christmas we get.  The challenge lies in transitioning the stressed out and hateful crowd to become nice and giving....well at least nicer.  Jesus' teaching regarding "The Golden Rule" would fit nicely at this point in our discourse as He speaks about the way we are to treat those we consider enemies:  Luke 6:27-36  In other words, we are to give a little bit of our lives to them.  By so doing, we show Jesus to them.  Regardless of their reaction, our interaction with people is to be one that is God honoring, so as to point them to the reason for the season.

As we get ready for Christmas, musicals are being rehearsed, lists are being updated, menus are being planned, and gifts are being purchased.  The strategy with which each of these efforts are being enacted should be commended.  But what if we put as much strategy into our efforts to give to others.  Not just the "tangible" gifts that are exchanged at Christmas, but those small things that are never noticed by anyone but God that happen every day.  That really is how the first Christmas took place.  A young woman gave birth to a child.  An occurrence that even 2000 years ago, happened every day.  But this was no ordinary birth.  This was the ultimate gift, seen by only a few people, but the impact through the ages has been and will continue to be life altering.

As each year passes, the more I realize that it really is the little things in life that make the biggest impacts. A paid for meal for a stranger in the drive through, or a listening ear (and closed mouth) for a friend who is going through a tumultuous time in their lives, may seem minor in the eyes of the giver, however they are mountainous in the eyes of the receiver.  So take a moment this Christmas season and strategize with your family or as a solo act as to who you can....give a little bit, give a little bit of your life... "See the man with the lonely eyes, take his hand, you'll be surprised".  

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy