Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Will Follow Him" (Cast from Sister Act/Little Peggy March)

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Hi there!!!  It's another Tuesday and you are in just the right spot for a dose of the delectable, a taste of the tantalizing, and a sprinkling of the spiritual...it's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  It is our goal at Tuesday's Musical Notes to inspire you to broader musical appreciation as well as greater depths of Biblical investigation.  Today is a prime example as we reconnoiter discipleship together.  Before we explore, let's take a look at one interpretation of today's feature song.  No, really, we need to get this out of the way so you can focus...

which differs a bit from the original...

Most folks know of her smash 1963 #1 hit "I Will Follow Him", but what many of the Sister Act generation don't realize is that in 1963 and 1964 Little Peggy March (4' 9") would have 5 singles hit Billboard's Hot 100.  From 1963 to 1981, she would achieve international chart success with a grand total of 41 singles.  She is the youngest female performer to ever have a #1 as "I Will Follow Him" would soar to the top spot in April of 1963 when she was only 15 .  She continues to perform at venues in the United States after spending many years in Germany, where she achieved the height of her popularity. 

"I Will Follow Him" is a great example of a song which can have a duality of meanings depending on its context.  If played at a drive-in, it is a love song, however, in our Sister Act example it is a song of devotion to the Savior.  There are many songs that if you take a few minutes to delve into the lyrical content, you could see redemption in the rhyme.  In fact, I recently read a blog by youth pastor Al Di Salvatore, that discussed 50 "secular" songs that could be sung in church. Some of the songs may seem to be a stretch for you, but read his explanation and ponder... From his blog, Read Between The Lines:

Even if you don't agree with all of the selections on Salvatore's list, you probably know songs,"secular" and "sacred" that speak to your spirit as intimately as "Just As I Am" did to previous generations.  What these songs have in common is a devotion to Jesus that is so powerful, that it causes folks to do whatever they can to be followers...or to become a disciple.

At dictionary.com, the first definition for disciple is one of a religious context.  It describes a disciple as, "one of the 12 personal followers of Christ, one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ, any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime, or any follower of Christ"  It then defines a disciple as "a person who is a pupil or adherent of the doctrines of another".  You see, all of us are disciples of something or someone.  The beauty behind our free will is the fact that we get to choose who disciples us.  

The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament. They tell the story of Jesus. In the New International Version of the Gospels, the phrase "follow me" is used 29 times.  Matthew has 9, Mark notes the passage 6 times, and "follow me" is used 7 times in Luke and John.  Every time it is articulated, Jesus is the one who says it.  He uses these words in 2 ways.  

The first connotation of "follow me" is that of a declarative/command statement.  Jesus uses it when He calls each of the disciples. Peter and Andrew, Matthew 4:18-20.  Matthew, Mark 2:14. Philip and Nathanael, John 1:43-50.  It is easy to see the use of "follow me" as an action that the listener must obey.  Jesus calls to each of us the same way today.  "Follow me" is the call to salvation.  It is the call to put on "the mind of Christ" as we study His Word.  It is the call to engage with Him in the ministry that He has planned for us.  It is a call that is declared to all who will listen and it can be a call to sacrifice.

Secondly, "follow me" is used to give the direction or location of where disciples will be going.  Jesus explains later on in His ministry that His disciples will follow the paths that He takes and ultimately, will follow Him to heaven.  Time and again, Jesus speaks in terms of physical places and events in which His disciples will follow Him.  For a more in depth study on how the disciples followed Jesus, even to,with the exception of John,  their deaths, pick up the book by John MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men. When reading, you soon discover that Jesus wants us to follow in spirit and truth.   You never hear Jesus say, "When things are easy, follow me", "When you feel like it, follow me, "When your friends think it is cool, follow me", "When you've made enough money, follow me", "When you're old enough, follow me".  

While the command to follow Jesus has two distinct applications, it never changes.  The life of a disciple will have its challenges, yet because...."We love Him, we love Him, we love Him..."  "I will follow Him..."

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Running On Empty" (Jackson Browne)

Welcome To Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  The place where music and missional minds exist in concert to encourage, enlighten and invigorate readers.  A place where trivia about music and truths about life coexist in tandem to cause us to think, ponder and engage the world around us.  Or, maybe its just a fun way to kill a few minutes reading a blog about your favorite songs. Regardless of your reason, Welcome and thanks for tuning in.  (Don't forget to check out the archives...)
                                                
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There are many connotations of the word "run".  Grammatically, it can be used as a verb with an object (to run a half marathon), as a verb without an object (to run from danger), as a noun (I am going on a run), or as an adjective if the object is liquefied or melted (run butter).  The idea of running permeates music (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Ran (So Far Away", Springsteen's "Born To Run", Tom Petty's "Running Down A Dream", to name a couple of classics).  Today's feature song describes a feeling that perhaps we all have from time to time.  It describes the intense desire to take a break, get some rest, and reload the tank.  It can also be descriptive of one who is devoid of substance.  It spent 17 weeks on Billboards hot 100, peaking at #11 in 1978.  Here's Jackson Browne, with "Running On Empty".

  "Running On Empty" Jackson Browne from 1977's Running On Empty

We have a confession to make to you...we are fast becoming a Presidential election political junkie.  Not exactly sure how this happened...We vaguely remember wearing a campaign button for George McGovern in 1972, of course we were only in 2nd grade and we're not even sure how that particular button came into our posession...I think I traded it for a marble or something, but I digress.  Presidential elections have recently become a fascination.  The candidates, the strategies, the caucuses, the primaries, the debates...is anyone else's pulse racing now?...All of it combines with the ultimate result of determining who will be the leader of the most powerful, and best country in the world.  That is quite the tall order, and one that we're not sure Americans in general take seriously enough.  As a disclaimer, Tuesday's Musical Notes will not be endorsing any candidate or party above another.  We will however, present Biblical mandates regarding "hotbed" issues and leadership as the need arises.  

WE do realize that it is over a year away before ANY actual caucuses or primaries begin.  We also realize that your current temptation to press "delete" is almost more than you can bear.  But, please continue reading, as we hope to provide you with some insights into what is looking like a very confusing choice that we have ahead of us as Americans in 2016.  Without the right information, much of which you will have to discover and ponder for yourself, it could be very easy to vote for someone who is "running on empty".

According to a George Mason University article, (McDonald, Michael (March 25, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout rates), in the 2012 Presidential election, 58.2% of Americans voted.  This means that over 130 million Americans did not vote.  That's a lot of folks.  As a percentage, it rivals the number of church members who are not consistent church attenders.  (check out last weeks notes for more...Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We Are The World").  

While much is being done by Democrats and Republicans to get out "their" vote.  Not as much is being done to educate the general populace about the candidates themselves.  With recent "stirrings" surrounding Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding their candidacy in 2016, interest and much media time is already being devoted to their downsides.  According to some news outlets, as many as 25 potential candidates are investigating the prospects of a 2016 Presidential run in the Republican party and their are 3-5 potential candidates on the Democrat side.  This doesn't count a Libertarian, Green Party, or any other number of smaller political factions getting candidates on the ballot.  With all of the negative comments that are sure to begin happening, how are we to decide who is the best out of this cavalcade of politicians?  Let's go to the best resource book available...

Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?  Psalm 58:1  NIV

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.  Proverbs 28:2  NIV


Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  Phillipians 2:3 NASB

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously- take God seriously.  Micah 6:8  The Message



Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
 Matthew 20:26  NASB

Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kind; sound leadership has a moral foundation.  Proverbs 16:12  The Message

When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.  Proverbs 29:2  The Message


There is much to be gained by doing research on what the Bible has to say about leaders and leadership. I would absolutely love to see a Presidential debate where the primary focus was on the faith of the candidates.  Unfortunately, due to a misinterpretation of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson, that will probably never happen. (read the actual letter here and decide for yourself:  Thomas Jefferson's "Church And State" letter to Danbury Baptists)

There are ways of discovering the spirituality of those who are seeking the highest office in the land.  If you read the biographies of, or books written by those considering a Presidential campaign, you soon see most all of them list a religion, or perhaps a denominational affiliation as an indicator of their faith.  This listing alone should not satisfy our investigative efforts, for if we apply normal church statistics, over 50% of these candidates will be non attending church members. 

More importantly than their denominational alliance, what do they personally believe about...the Bible?  God?  The Holy Spirit?  Satan?  Creation?  Sexual fornication?  abortion?  and most importantly...who do they think Jesus is?  What is their take on...the Virgin Birth?  the crucifixion?  The resurrection?  and the 2nd return of Jesus to earth?  What has their life stood for?  What have they done in or out of office to support the claims they make with regard to these questions.  What is the character of the people in which they surround themselves?  The answers to all of these questions are available via the internet, the candidates own words through books they have written, or as a matter of the public record. Our ability to become an "educated, believing" constituent is greatly enhanced if we have the wherewithal to find the answers to those questions as well as ones that are important to you. 

The Notes would never suggest that you have to believe the we way that we do.  In fact, we encourage you to find out what you truly believe on these topics through your own Biblical study and then chose the candidate whose beliefs are the most closely aligned with yours.  Do not allow Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Larry King, Jon Stewart, or your political "affiliation" influence your decision.  Use the Bible as your benchmark, the Holy Spirit as your guide and then pray.  It is never to soon to start finding out all you can about the men and women who at the very least will mold the debate regarding the election of our next President.


According to 2010 census data, over 2 million people in the United States of America consider themselves evangelical.  Here's where they are located by state:
most least christian state

Imagine what would happen to Presidential politics if these folks began today praying for and investigating every person who is expressing interested in running for President.  Imagine the possibilities of conversations that begin as political dialogues and end up as prayerful declarations.  Imagine electing a President who is not..."running on empty".

"Run To The End Of The Highway" Keith Green from 1984's Jesus Commands Us To Go

'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "We Are The World" (USA For Africa)


















Welcome to Tuesday and our January 20th edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes.  The place where we can come together and explore our favorite passions...music, The Message, and ministry.   If these 3 things don't happen to be areas to which you don't have passion, I can promise that there will be something in today's notes, that will stir you...well, at least stir the nostalgic part of you...well, at least if you are a certain age demographic your nostalgia might be stirred, otherwise, it's a good musical history lesson.  While you're here you might even check out the archives...they are here  
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Recent terrorist events have reminded us of the preciousness of life.  Politicians want us to believe that they have our backs, and are doing everything they can to protect us.  Leaders throughout history have tried to maintain a similar message as they allocate resources and assets to maximize effectiveness to protect or negate the impact of natural or man made disaster.  Unfortunately, things occur that are outside anyone's control.  The cause of these things occasionally are man made, look at Paris this week, New York City 13 years ago, or Pearl Harbor 74 years ago.  Other times things occur in nature to cause disaster to befall mankind.  (As a disclaimer, Tuesday's Musical Notes does not believe that mankind can control nature, we are only to be stewards and do the best we can with the God given resources we have, therefore we do not subscribe to the theories that surround global warming. Perhaps when 75% of the country isn't experiencing one of the coldest winter's on record we might walk down that path, but not today...) If you study history for very long, you soon realize that floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and famine are a part of what we face as residents of planet earth.  We cannot control these things, however, when the uncontrollable occurs, mankind tends to step up and do things that are within their control...in other words..."there comes a time, when we heed a certain call", and now we take you to a recording studio on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, 30 years ago tomorrow...

A dream by singer Harry Belefonte, a newly formed charity organization called United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa), a song written by superstars Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, and an assembly of some of the best known names in 80's entertainment would come together to make a recording that would impact the world.  It was an effort to relieve an incredible famine in Africa.  It was an effort that would raise over $63 million in relief effort for Africa and the hungry world wide.  In case your memory is a little foggy or you're wondering "who in the world are these people?", here is a list from the Wikipedia listing of the contributors to the single with an estimated global sales of 20 million, making it the 5th best selling single of all time:

Conductor
Soloists (in order of appearance)
Chorus (alphabetically)
Band

Amazing that this diverse group, with millions of combined record sales, could see the plight of folks half way around the world and come together to make an impact.  The idea would follow Band-Aid's efforts, (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Do They Know It's Christmas Time") and would assist the hungry not only in Africa, but domestically as well.  This would begin a movement of "crusades" by musical artists that benefit social issues on a world wide scale.  "We Are The World" would serve as the inspiration for the mega world wide concert "Live Aid", improved exposure for UNICEF, Farm Aid, and then come full circle when the song was rerecorded in 2010 by an updated group of artists who called themselves Artists For Haiti, to provide support and financial assistance for the survivors of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the island nation of Haiti..."it's true we make a brighter day, just you and me..."

"We Are The World" 25 for Haiti from 2010


Artists for this effort (source: Wikipedia)

Conductors
Soloists (in order of appearance)[20][21]

Chorus

These artists are to be applauded for their efforts.  Again, it goes to show what like minded people can do to benefit folks they don't know when they pool their talents and resources together.  In both efforts, the artists donated money as well as their vocal stylings to the relief efforts.  

Their is an organization that is much larger than USA for Africa, Band Aid, or Artists for Haiti.  It is called the church.  Your relationship to this organization is most likely predicated by what you believe about its most sacred document, the Bible. More on the Bible and its role in the world in a later notes, today we want to explore the church.  

Approximately, 2 Billion people make up the membership roles of churches world wide.  What are those 2 billion members supposed to be doing?  What was God's intention for creating the church?  According to Paul:


 "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."  Ephesians 3:10-12.  
 
 
That seems pretty simple.  Tell the whole world that Jesus is God, that He came in a form we could understand (our own), died to bridge the gap between our unholiness and God's holiness, and is now alive with God being a mediator for us as we live in a fallen (unrighteous) world.

What could happen to our world if all of the 2 billion members of God's church would become passionate about achieving "His intent"?  I fear that far too many times the words that I am known by have been, "I'm a member at _______ church" instead of "I'm a part of the bride of Jesus, can I tell you what that means?".  Imagine if the 2 billion people who are on church roles, consistently participated and actively engaged in the ministries of the churches to which they belong.  I'm told the average church has an attendance of 50% of its membership.  Less than that participate in small groups or Sunday School.  

We just entered 2015.  If you are active in your church, pause and evaluate if there are possibilities for service that you have yet to explore.  What is God calling you to?  If you have been inconsistent as a church member,  today is the day for you to start the habit of actively participating, engaging, and being discipled at a church of your choosing.  If you aren't a follower of Jesus, today is the day that can change.  Find a Bible, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Then explore the Book of Romans.  Open your mind, heart, and soul to what God will say to you through His Word.  Then find a group of folks who you can share this new life. Discipleship does not occur in a vacuum.  We need each other.  Together we can accomplish more for God's kingdom than we could ever hope to achieve on our own.  

 
'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy




Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "It Takes Two" (Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston)

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Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the very first Tuesday of 2015!  Today we present to you a reprint from Tuesday's Musical Notes - The Email.  It is inspired by the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston 1965 hit duet, "It Takes Two".  The song would peak at #14 on Billboards Pop Charts and as high as #4 on the January 1967 Soul Singles Chart. 

Welcome to today!!!  "Do you believe in miracles?!!!"  On February 22nd,1980 a certain Olympic Hockey team certainly did.  You know you want to hear Al Michaels say it....hit this link:

"Do you believe in miracles?" - Miracle on the Ice

It amazed everyone in the world that a group of college students from  the United States could defeat the 4 time world champions at hockey, USSR.  I'll never forget watching as Al Michaels called the only hockey game I have ever watched from start to finish.  Hollywood even made a movie about it with Kurt Russel starring as Herb Brooks, the US Olympic Hockey team coach.  It's a good movie, that I'm sure if you're my age, you would enjoy.  It's called simply "Miracle".

     I know you're probably wondering what a duet by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, and hockey have in common, especially how they are linked to scripture.  Think about it for just a minute.  Anything you have achieved in your life was probably achieved  through the help of other people.  You acted as part of a team and through your combined efforts you achieved the goal.  Many times goals in our lives would be totally impossible through our own efforts. You soon discover that if put 1 and 1 together that sometimes it equals more than 2.  In fact, the Beatles wrote a song about teamwork.  Joe Cocker ("You Are So Beautiful", "Up Where We Belong"), who died last month, had this iconic performance with it at Woodstock. 

 
     The Bible has many things to say about man combining his efforts or gathering together to do great things. 
 
 

Matthew 18:19-21 (New King James Version)

 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
    

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New International Version, ©2010)

  Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
 If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up.
 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
 Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
 
 
What these passages elude to is the old saying that there is strength in numbers.  We can achieve exponentially more if we work together.  When even one member of the team is missing, the maximum output cannot be achieved.  


Did you notice in the last sentence of the Ecclesiastes passage, that 2 transitions to 3..."A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Up to this point Solomon has spoken in regards of 2 folks coming together to "have a good return for their labor,  "one can help the other up", or to keep warm.  In this last sentence, a third party shows up to make the cord even stronger.  I confess to not knowing anything about how cords are put together, but I do know that we have promise after promise of God's help when we need it.  One of those promises is found in Matthew 18:19, Jesus said this, "
Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."  So as two folks come together to achieve something, the Father comes along as the third strand of the cord to strengthen the task.


     That's why it is so important that you come "whenever the doors are open" to the church in which your membership resides.  There is encouragement, education, edification, and enjoyment when you join with like minded people to worship God, His Son and His Spirit and work to see others delivered from the enemy. 

     What exactly gets accomplished when we "gather together to ask the Lord's blessings"?  The Bible says that we join with the heavenly throng in worship, children get taught Bible stories, God gets glorified, and preChristians get delivered!! 

It's the start of the new year and resolutions are abounding.  Perhaps you are one of the thousands of folks who resolved to get involved at a church, be more consistent in your relationship with your church family or to take more initiative in your relationship with Jesus.  As a start to that, let me encourage you to strongly evaluate how and what your membership at church means to you.  Does it mean enough to you that you sacrifice your tithe, time, and talent.....?  Please don't get me wrong, membership in church doesn't get you in heaven, only the blood of Christ can do that.  However, to use another old cliche'....."actions speak louder than words"  Do you have an "active" faith? Your answers to these questions will go a long way to determining the success of your New Year's resolution.

 
    A couple of years ago, I read the book called "Sun Stand Still" by Stephen Furtick, pastor at Elevation Church in North Carolina.  I highly recommend this book to you and ask that you pray that I can have the "audacious faith" to which it refers.  Here is a few questions that reading this book has generated for me.   I serve a God who I believe physically caused the Sun to stay in the sky for an entire day, why do I believe He can do less now?  Why do I not ask for the sun to stand still?  Why do I trust my eternal destination on His Word, but not my day to day life?  Why do I not serve Him in areas that he has blessed me with as strengths?  Am I being a willing participant, or spectator.  Have I fulfilled the commitments that I made when I accepted Christ's redemption?   


These are just a few of the questions this book has caused me to ponder.  I admit that I haven't come up with all of the answers, I'm not completely sure I am finished asking all of my questions, but perhaps if we work on it together we can find  answers that surprise us both.  Will you join with me?  It takes two....me and you!
 

"It Takes Two" - Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston from the 1966 album Take Two



'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy