Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Smoke On The Water" (Deep Purple)

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  The blog that attempts to answer the question..."what do I want to read on Tuesday's that is insightful, trivial, and spiritual all at the same time?"  It is the blog that combines the important with the not-so-important-but-interesting to start your day, catapult your week, and spur you onto greatness!  Well, maybe it's just a blog written from a love of music and the Messiah...the greatness part is yours to work on.....anyway it's time for The Notes!

What an incredible time of the year!  Flowers are blooming, farmers are farming and graduates are graduating!  Congrats High School and Collegiate Class of 2014!!!  Your future awaits!  It will be filled with adventure and excitement as you discover new challenges and explore new skills!  Embrace and enjoy all of the "new" that is happening around you!   While there are many new things that await as you sally forth, you may be surprised to find that many things in this "grown up" life are very familiar...

Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water"

If you hang out with music lovers for very long you begin to notice that at the very beginning of a song, they smile in recognition or begin a head bob.  This is due to the condition known as musicas recognitis.  Sometimes people with this condition can be very helpful (I can name that tune in 2 notes!).  Sometimes they can drive you crazy (one note of the song begins and they exclaim..."GREAT SONG!").  To a certain extent everyone who listens to music of any genre carries the genetic mutation which can cause musicas recognitis to go to full flare up.  Songs like our song of the day, tend to make it go into full blown bodily takeover mode.

Many songs featured in Tuesday's Musical Notes have easy to recognize beginnings... Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Crazy Train", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Let My Love Open The Door", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Life's Been Good" are all songs that the minute they begin playing, instant familiarity floods every sinew of your musical being.  But no song more encapsulates this feeling than Deep Purple's 1972 #4 classic, "Smoke On The Water".  It came in at #4 on Total Guitar Magazine's Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever ("Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever" - Guitar Magazine) and continues to make Machine Head, Deep Purple's best selling album.  

It is a song about a fire that wiped out the Montreaux Casino on the night of a Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention concert.  The title actually came from the fact that the band could see the fire from their hotel across Lake Geneva from the casino.  The smoke was literally on the water!  "Smoke On The Water" continues to be the song for which Deep Purple is known.  It is one of the only songs that Black Sabbath every covered, as lead singer Ian Gillian toured with the band during 1983 and is its opening guitar lick is usually one of the first guitar riffs learned by beginning guitarists.  Hence the ability of "Smoke On The Water" to be recognized by people around the world.

Just like the opening guitar riff of "Smoke On The Water", believers should be quickly recognized when they are encountered.  The Notes absolutely does not wish to insult anyone, but we wonder if this is reality.  Would the believers you know be easily recognized in a room full of non-believers?  Would YOU be easily and quickly recognized as a believer in a crowd of non-believers?  We confess and are saddened by the fact that far too many times we are not immediately and regularly recognized as being a follower of Jesus.  For too many years, we have surrounded ourselves by people who believe like we do because it is the most comfortable position in which to be.  Upon reflection we wonder if this is the model that Jesus put before us.

In Matthew 5, Jesus delivers his beatitudes message to a hillside of people who were looking for a deliverer.  He was considered revolutionary through this message of encouraging people to be meek, poor, and merciful.  In the beatitudes, Jesus verbalizes the attributes of a person who would be effortlessly  recognized as a disciple of His.  He later likens His followers to a light on a lightstand, shining brightly so that "they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  In this discourse, Jesus details outward attributes that would show people around us that we are Christians.  If we may, The Notes would like to consolidate these attributes into 3...love, joy, and hope.

First of all, to be recognized by the world around us as followers of Jesus, we must love like Jesus loved.  That seems to be easily done, but the practicality of it is somewhat more difficult.  In His earthly ministry, Jesus physically touched those who were considered "unclean" (Matthew 8:1-3 ), He associated with those who were considered "sinners" (Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 7:36-50) and He was compassionate to the powerful (Luke 18:18-23, John 3:1-21).  Jesus displayed love to all those He encountered who approached Him with a need.  His love and compassion is the very first sign that makes one easily recognizable as a believer.

Secondly, believers have an inner joy that exudes from them regardless of the situation in which they may find themselves.  It has been well said that this is the biggest thing that is missing from the church and believers today is the sense of joy in the salvation and restoration we have through Jesus.  The 1st chapter of the book of James details why our joy is complete even in trials (James 1)  Jesus displayed joy at times as well (Luke 10:17-24). 

Finally, of all people in the world, believers have reason to hope.  Hope as we anticipate the revelation for God's plan in this world (...on earth as it is in heaven...).  Hope as we watch the daily transformation we make into being more like Jesus (Romans 12:1-23).  And hope of the eternity we will have with Him and the Father as He promised us (Matthew 24).  

As we enter the environments that are our daily lives, let us be challenged to easily be recognized as believers by loving the way that Jesus loved, outwardly showing the contagious joy of our salvation, and exhibiting an irrepressible hope of the future.  That way those around us will instantly and easily know we are Christians within the first few measures of our song....

Carolyn Arends - "They Will Know We Are Christians"

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" (Harry Connick Jr.)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  It's the 111th day of the year.  Wow!  Almost a third of 2014 is already in the books!  It sometimes seems difficult for the mind to process all that has happened in the expanse of 111 days.  Our world continues to change, yet the God who raised Jesus from the tomb is never changing.  He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!!!  Thank goodness!!!  He is someone we can rely on regardless of where we may be in our lives.  With all of the changes happening around us so quickly it can sometimes be difficult to listen closely to what God may be leading us to.  In fact, the Bible says that sometimes He speaks in a still small voice...or maybe just Whisper's your name...

"(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" - Harry Connick Jr. from the album She

 

When you mention the genre of music called "jazz", you tend to get opinions of an extreme nature.  What we mean is folks either really like it or they really don't.  There seems to be very little "in between" likers if you will of the first truly American form of music.  Since the turn of the century, this category of music has been ever evolving while maintaining basic root elements that make it some of the hardest music to play, but some of the most enjoyable in which to listen. (again opinions vary...see your local band director to see if jazz may be right for you...)

With each generation the mantle of the music of jazz gets passed.  Originators like W.C. Handy and "Jelly Roll" Morton, would pass the forms and foundations on to names like Louis Armstrong and the big band era of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington.  A new generation would spring forth with crooners by the names of Crosby and Sinatra.  With each successive generation, Jazz would survive as an undercurrent of whatever became the most popular form of music.  Surprisingly, even our Rock drenched culture pushes good jazz records to the tops of the charts, making them gold and platinum.  Michael Buble' continues the trend with sold out concerts and record setting sales records.  

But just like the genre', there is an artist who for over 35 years has been an everyman in the entertainment industry.  Accomplished piano player, Grammy winning jazz artist for his stand alone as well as his soundtrack work, actor on television and the big screen, Broadway musical composer, and now judge for one of America's most loved televised talent shows, American Idol.  He is Harry Connick Jr.  

When you whisper his name, many people know about this musician/actor/talent show judge, but they don't realize that he has had a 37 year career in Music, TV, Broadway, and Feature Films.  "Oh, yeah...wasn't he that guy that was Wil Smith's buddy that got killed in Independence Day" is your usual reaction.  His biggest selling single is his most controversial with his fans as he explored the "funk" side of his beloved Jazz.  His many fans expected another album of crooner tunes, but what they got was a New Orleans funky jazz experience.  The 1994 release She, which happened to be the year he married Victoria Secret's model Jill Goodacre, showed the musical expanse of Harry Connick Jr and his ability to crossover into Billboard Charts that were not Jazz.  The single made it as high as #67 on the Hot 100.  It really was the tipping point that would begin to show his versatility as an entertainer and communicator.

Many in the world today wonder if God ever speaks directly to people.  If we use our guidebook to everything God, the Bible, we see that God utilizes many methods to communicate with people directly.  He spoke directly to the patriarchs Noah and Abraham (Genesis 8:15 and 12:1).  He uses the elements (cloud by day, and fire by night to lead) to speak during the time of Moses (Exodus 13:22).  The Bible says that he called to Samuel who thought it was Eli calling out to him. (1 Samuel 3). But seemingly, the most powerful way that God speaks is through the quiet of a whisper.  A "still small voice" that we can miss in the fast pace of our world if we are not constantly listening for it.

 

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself?  Ever felt persecuted?  Ever felt lonely?  No one should ever be lonely... Perhaps those are the times we should be listening the most.  Over the course of his ministry, the prophet Elijah felt each of these emotions.  He just had the victory over the prophets of the false god Baal and before he had time for a victory lap, the queen was out to make sure that he paid with his life.  He escapes into the desert and starts to have a pity party.  Sound familiar?  It does to me.  At the point where Elijah should have been leaning on God, he was being introspective and feeling sorry for himself.  He felt alone, but what he could not see was that God was working.  He soon got an "eye opener" through his ears....1 Kings 19:1-18 NKJV/The Message parallel

Just like Elijah, we can get so caught up with life, that is difficult to hear or see God's plan.  God speaks in many ways.  Before we are believers, He can speak through other people and His Word, the Bible.  After our relationship is restored through Jesus, God speaks directly to us through His Holy Spirit.  This Comforter that He promised us will never leave us.  We have to guard against the business of life that has the opportunity to drown out His communications to us.  Because you never can tell where Holy Spirit may be saying, "I will speak with you, if you will listen.  Be still, still enough that you would hear me if I could only whisper your name..."

'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Sir Duke" (Stevie Wonder)

It's Tuesday, Tuesday, get to read The Notes on Tuesday!!!  Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Even better than that...welcome to Passion Week for believers all around the world!!!  Many followers of Jesus memorialize this week as they take each day and trace the footsteps that Jesus took as He lived his last week as a human on earth.  It all culminates at the beginning of next week with an empty tomb and a Savior that is alive!!!  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!!!  If you would like to read the story of Jesus last week, it can be found here:  John 12:12 - 20:31.  The reaction of Jesus' followers to His resurrection was joyful, bold, and exuberant...in short it was a joy they could feel all over...

"Sir Duke" - Stevie Wonder

"...with an equal opportunity, for all to sing, dance, and clap their hands."  Stevie Wonder wrote this song as a tribute to some of the musicians that inspired him.  Most of these musical pioneers are considered Jazz stalwarts by our musical genre "boxes" today. But in their own time, they were creating popular music for the masses.  Much like today's Country and Rock acts, Glen Miller, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington made music that inspired and encouraged their generation to bigger and better things.  In the words of American Bandstand, their songs "had a beat and you can dance to it!". With the exception of limited collegiate classes, these great days-gone-by standards are rarely exposed to the modern day listener.  As you scroll across the radio dial, (I know, we "scan the radio frequencies" now) it is rare to hear one of these great musicians.  The advent of subscription radio has exposed a new generation to these aficionados of musical prowess, yet without an increased saturation, we may be 1 generation away from  losing the opportunity to hear "Ella's voice ringin' out".  If this happens the band is sure to lose.

According to a recent CBO report regarding discretionary Federal spending, 1.7 billion (yep!!!  BILLION) was appropriated in 2013 for Federal spending on the arts. (Reducing Federal Spending for Arts and Humanities - CBO November 2013)  The beneficiaries of this tax payer funding are: 

"Recipients of the subsidies include the Smithsonian Institution ($776 million), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($422 million), the National Endowment for the Humanities ($139 million), the National Endowment for the Arts ($139 million), the National Gallery of Art ($122 million), the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ($48 million), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ($35 million), and the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program ($2 million)."

It is certainly not The Notes intention to be critical of the benefits that each of these august institutions provide to our Republic, however, one must question the ultimate cost vs. benefits of each of these.  How could our country be transformed if PRIVATE institutions were to take on this funding, (pocket change for Warren Buffet or George Soros), and those tax payer dollars were rolled back into funding for Choir, Band, Drama, and Art programs at our public schools?  While we cannot be sure, one would imagine that there would be some pretty dramatic changes in a myriad of areas. 

On a more personal level, what if people who profess Jesus as the Lord of their lives, did a similar exercise?  What if they evaluated their resources (money, time, effort) and reallocated more towards those things that Jesus loves?  What if as we celebrate this Resurrection season, believers in our communities, stopped worrying about what kind of music is being utilized in their service and began worrying about the lost person who was standing beside them at their local grocery store?  The Notes confesses that far too many times we worry about our needs being met in all of our environments...including the church.  Please forgives us for this selfishness!  

 

We have an opportunity this Resurrection season unlike no other to go about doing 3 things:

 

1) Love others like Jesus loves them

2) Have a contagious joy because you are redeemed and restored in your relationship with God through Jesus sacrifice.

3) Overtly display the hope of your eternity - those who are going to heaven have something to hope for.

While doing these things, we won't be the only ones 

"who can feel it all over, you can feel it all over people..."  

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)

Good Tuesday to ya' neighbor!!!  It's the day of the week where we get to meet together in the internetosphere and explore strange new words, to seek out new life and new musical interludes, to boldly go follow where 1 man has gone before!  Unfortunately we don't have an Alexander Courage underscore to go with our intro, so let's just get started, shall we!!  Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes, where we inform, inspire and encourage with a soundtrack of well loved music and a dash of trivia to spice up the broth of our musical stew.  So get ready to strap in and rip off the knobs (radios used to have knobs). We launch in 5.....4....3...2..1!!!

Blastoff!!!

For those of you  born in the decades of the 50's and 60's, welcome to being "older".  Those born in the fabulous fifties are gracefully embarking on the scenic sixties, that age in life where transitions are met with a trepedatious gusto.  Those born in the scintillating sixties are experiencing the flashy fifties where most everything is met with an embrace like that of an old friend.  We are now the "older" folks.  Let's face it, the word "old" is really about perspective, not age.   Just look at the legacy in film that legendary actor Mickey Rooney did AFTER he turned 60.  Mickey Rooney Filmography  The iconic movie star died this weekend at the age of 93.  He began acting in films at the age of 6.  His acting/producing/directing credits are enormous.  He continued to be introduced to fans around the world as his body of work expanded across 8 decades.  What many may not know was the he was a leading advocate for elder issues, even testifying before congress about elder abuse.

70 and 80 aren't as old as they used to be looking through the image of 50 year old eyes.  In 1966, The Beatles began exploring the folks they considered "older".  What they found was the terrible sickness of loneliness.  This disease is not exclusive to those who are older.  It can strike at any age and be devastating in someone's life if they continue to suffer from it... just like Eleanor Rigby.

"Eleanor Rigby" - The Beatles

Backed only by a string ensemble (an octet that included 4 violins, 2 cellos, and 2 viola), The Beatles set about recording what would eventually be #137 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  The song would also win a Grammy that year for best Contemporary Vocal Performance (R&R), Male or Female.  None of the Fab Four played any instruments for the string arrangement by George Martin, the producer of many of The Beatles' hits.  "Eleanor Rigby" went to # 1 in the UK but only would go as high as #11 in the US.  In the 80's a tombstone was discovered bearing the name Eleanor Rigby.  While not having met the actual Eleanor Rigby, Paul McCartney auctioned off a signed document by the lady that sold for $250,000.  The proceeds went to the Sunbeams Music Trust, a music therapy group that uses the creative processes of music to help the disadvantaged have a better quality of life.  In essence, Paul McCartney was looking at all the lonely people.

Each of us have had seasons of loneliness in our lives.  Perhaps you are even going through one now.  It has been well said that it is possible to be in a stadium of thousands of people and still feel alone.  This isn't the life that God had planned for us when He says in Jeremiah 29:11 -

 "For I know the plans I have for you"--this is the LORD's declaration--"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

 

That being said, loneliness is not from God.  The converse of this scripture could easily be placed at the enemy's feet.  Reasonably, most folks don't consider that the enemy has a plan for their life as well.  His plan is not for their welfare, but for disaster, and a future of pain and anguish.  If the deceiver of men's souls is given the opportunity, he will deliver a life full of loneliness.  If we look all around us we can see lives that are living under that plan.  This is contrary to the entire theme of the Bible.  We were created to never be alone.  Time and again the Word assures us that God will never leave nor forsake us. 

Genesis 28:15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

John 14:15-18

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep^[a] My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.


If you find yourself in a season of loneliness now claim these promises as your own.  They are intense promises.  They are assurances that we can believe in every day of our lives, regardless of where we may find ourselves.  The choice we have to make is whether we want to claim those promises and follow the plans that God has for us to prosper or the evil one's plan for our destruction.  When we boldly go about doing the good works that God has already planned for us to accomplish, we can go about with a sense that we won't be counted among all the lonely people... where do they all belong...and we can rest assured that we are never alone...

"Never Alone" - Barlow Girl

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Make 'Em Laugh" (Donald O'Connor)

Happy April....no foolin'!!!  Welcome to Tuesday and The Musical Notes!!  This is your resource for trivial tidbits about musical memories and how they can inspire thoughts of a Scriptural Savior. Its the first day of April...yikes!!!  Be on the lookout for the extraordinary today.  This is the day of the year more pranks, punks, and downright deceptions are pulled than any other.  No it's not a national holiday...it's April Fool's day.  Today there will be a myriad of jokes played on the unsuspecting by those who have way too much time on their hands (sounds like a Musical Note in the making).  So be on your guard today...

There is a lengthy history of April Fool's day.  Some have traced the annual celebration of pranks that occur at this time of the year back many centuries.  One would imagine that as each generation has learned traditions from the previous, that the best pranking and practical jokes have been fostered by heritage.  Let's face it, the hot foot will always be a vehicle to make 'em laugh...

"Make 'Em Laugh" from Singin' In The Rain - Donald O'Connor

Our song 'O the day is taken from a classic film starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor.  This 1952, Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen directed musical comedy is a movie that depicts what might have occurred in Hollywood during the transition from silent movies to "talkies".  The American Film Institute names it at the top of its list of 100 Years of Musicals and as of 2007 named Singing In The Rain its fifth greatest American Motion Picture of all time (For a complete list just click here:  American Film Institute - 100 years, 100 movies. 

 

O'Connor would be awarded a Golden Globe for Best Performance by and Actor in a Comedy or Musical as Cosmo Brown, the sidekick to Gene Kelly's Don Lockwood character.  O'Connor's career would be mostly defined by this musical and a talking mule (Francis, 6 films in the Francis the Talking Mule series).  His physical and comedic abilities were showcased by "Make 'Em Laugh", one of Singin' In The Rain's most memorable sequences. O'Connor would be hospitalized after the shooting of "Make 'Em Laugh" due to his 4 pack a day smoking habit, which The Notes cannot imagine made him laugh...

For many years, the magazine Reader's Digest featured a section called "Laughter, The Best Medicine".  Perhaps you have joined countless folks in going to that section first when given the opportunity to glance through this magazine.  It included funny stories and jokes similar to this...."Who was the worst sinner in the Bible?......Moses, he broke all of The 10 Commandments" (Thanks Mike Paslay for your contribution....writing credit achieved).  In reality, the health benefits behind laughing make for more than just a good magazine section title:

 

Laughter Is The Best Medicine - Healthguide.org

Surprisingly, there are only 7 occasions where the word "laughter" is used in the King James Version of the Bible.  Of those 7 times, 6 are in a relatively negative context. (Scriptural references to the word "laughter" in the King James Version of the Bible) How could it be that the "Good News" of the Bible reflects so little about an expression that is associated with happiness and joy and in most circles is considered much more infectious than any disease?  In contrast, the King James Bible utilizes the word "joy" 187 times.  Could it be that the Bible is more concerned with the condition of one's heart than any outward manifestation or appearance? Laughter can be a very external and contagious expression of joy. Our external expressions tend to always reflect our inward conditions.  Regardless of what those expressions may look like, our circle of influence is impacted by how the internal reflects the eternal.    

The Gospel of Matthew reveals a time of great emotion.  In chapter 28, we are told of the extraordinary events that took place for disciples of Jesus.  Jesus had been buried for 3 days after suffering the worst form of execution known to mankind.  After 3 days the story changes dramatically.  Earthquakes, angels, and an empty grave begin to dominate the story.  Picking up in verse 5 we see an gambit of external expression:

⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
¹⁰ Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

You may have noticed in verse 6 a multitude of feelings that were exhibited by the women.  It says they left their time with the angel "with fear and great joy".  Can you imagine the scene?  They had come to the tomb to continue the mourning ritual that was common for the culture and they were met with guards who were like dead men, the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb and an angel who would proclaim Jesus resurrection.  To say these women were astonished would be an understatement.   It isn't too hard to envision uproarious laughter as the transition from grief to joy overwhelmed them.  Then to cap it all off...they see Him!!!  Jesus, alive and waiting to tell them to not be afraid. One would imagine that this joy is the same emotion believers will experience when they see Jesus return to take them to heaven.  

The Resurrection celebration is just around the corner.  As we observe many events leading up to this time, let's not forget that with fear and trembling the disciples had a joy in their heart because the things that Jesus had been telling them were coming true right before their eyes.  He is risen!!!  He is risen indeed!!!

The joy of the women at the tomb can be experienced by believers today.  A friend of mine has recently said "what seems to be missing among churches and God's people today is that sense of joy and hope that we have in Jesus"  Through the power of Holy Spirit, we can let the joy and hope show in our lives so much in this world of darkness that those seeking the light will want to know from where it comes.  This contagious energy, this enthusiastic peace, this unwavering devotion can be a springboard for us to let the whole world know where our joy originates and why we have hope.  And maybe, just maybe in the process of sharing this joy..we can make 'em laugh!!!

'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy