Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Shine" (Collective Soul)

Welcome to Tuesday, February 24th!  It's the last Tuesday of February and at least in Arkansas the snow covers the ground!  Unlike many of our western sister states, we get usually less than 5 inches of snow per year.  This makes for snowfall being a really big deal in our part of the country.  Some folks like it, others not so much.  It becomes a headache for school administrators who have to make a decision on whether to take a "snow day" or not.  They really do deserve our thanks even if we disagree with some of their calls.  Snow forecasts tend to make for a run on the grocery stores for staples that folks feel they have to have in case they are in for a while. One wonders what you can do with milk and bread... I think there is a boy scout motto about being prepared at all times in the lesson here somewhere...maybe for another time.  Anyway, it's Tuesday and time for a snowy, shiny (yep that's a Firefly reference) Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

"Shine" from 1994's Hints, Allegations And Things Left Unsaid by Collective Soul

Many of the musical acts featured at Tuesday's Musical Notes, have taken years to find the right song that becomes a hit single.  This time is spent honing their craft, drafting and redrafting lyrics, and putting together "the sound" that will set them apart from the world of other artists attempting to make it in music.  Rare is the debut album to make it as high as #15 on Billboard's Hot 100 much less have its debut single go as high as #11.  Such is the case, however, with Atlanta based Collective Soul.  The iconic album cover featured artwork from Stephen Sondheim's 1979 Broadway Musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. Hints, Allegations, And Things Left Unsaid would be the beginning of over 20 years of touring and making music.  Riding the wave of the 90's grunge scene, Collective Soul's music would become known as "pop" grunge.  This inferred that Collective soul had the sound of the times, without the cynicism and angst. Ed Roland, lead singer, and his brother Dean, lead guitar, are considered the driving force behind the "positive"ness of Collective Soul. They are heavily influenced by Christian themes as their father was a Southern Baptist minister.  These themes will be seen again in 2015, as the band plans to release their 9th studio album, See What You Started By Continuing, which will inevitably continue their success.  

This success can be directly attributed to the success of "Shine", Collective Soul's debut single.  The entire album was a basement produced promotional demo.  After offering the single to local radio, the song began roaring up the charts.  The group were soon signed to Atlantic Records.  Atlantic wanted to produce the entire album as it was, however the band wanted to rerecord somewhere other than a basement.  The label felt the record would lose momentum if they took the time to "produce" Hints, Allegations, And Things Left Unsaid, so Collective Soul agreed to produce that album as it was...the result was a gold selling record.  I guess the moral of the story is, if you're in a garage or basement band,  never record over your tapes, or delete your digitally recorded files.  You never can tell where in the shadows a gold record my be hiding when heaven lets its light shine down....yeah!

Light, and its piercing of the darkness, is an overarching theme that permeates the Bible.  While many cultures have ancient texts that they study, memorize, follow the precepts of, and worship to some extent, only the Bible features the ideology of Light defeating darkness every time they have an encounter.  

We see Light in the very first words of the Bible as in Genesis we read:  

God spoke: “Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven’s sky!  Separate Day from Night.  Mark seasons and days and years,  Lights in Heaven’s sky to give light to Earth.”  And there it was."  Genesis 1:14-15 The Message. 

We also see Light utilized in the Poetry of the Bible:  Psalms 119:129-136 The Message/New International Version Parallel 

Jesus later proclaims of Himself: 

John 8:12 King James Version (KJV) ¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 9:5 The Message (MSG)

^3-5 Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.”


Finally, heaven is described as a place that is full of Light: 

 

Revelation 21:23-24New International Version (NIV)

²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
Revelation 22:5New International Version (NIV)
⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

While we wait that approaching day, we affirm the phrase in "Shine", "Oh... Heaven let your light shine down".  We also must understand that we are conduits for that light.  As we daily put on the mind of Christ, and allow Him to pierce and eradicate our dark areas with His Light, we must allow that Light to be seen in our dark world.  Believe it or not, we determine how much of  that Light is shone and consciously make the decision to allow its radiance to be seen in our circle of influence.  We choose whether it shines brightly, dimly, or not at all.  However, if we can borrow a cliche', with great Light should come great brightness!!!  A brightness that will shine throughout the generation to which we have been given responsibility to share the Good News.  We have been given a Spirit of boldness to go about doing that just that, so in the words of another song with the same title,  "Shine... make 'em wonder what ya got..."

"Shine" from 1994's Going Public by Newsboys

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Got My Mind Set On You" (George Harrison)

Hey there!  Welcome to Tuesday!  You have come to the perfect place for musings on music, thoughts on theology, and tidbits of trivia!  It's all rolled up into one neat blog called...Tuesday's Musical Notes!  In honor of yesterday's observance of President's day, we offer these musings, thoughts, and tidbits, from Presidents Washington and Lincoln...

"Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble" - George Washington

"In the end, it is not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years" - Abraham Lincoln

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation.  It is better to be alone than in bad company."  George Washington

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."  Abraham Lincoln

"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair;  the rest is in the hands of God"  George Washington

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side;  my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."  Abraham Lincoln

The Notes wishes to submit to you this editorial observation...the first presidential candidate in the 2016 election that makes these kinds of common sense quotes, instead of party talking points, would be worthy of the office to which he wishes to obtain.  Be looking for this person...

But we digress...

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where we endeavor to write with you on our minds and in our prayers... and sometimes with 2 different videos for the same song...in short, "I Got My Mind Set On You"...

"Got My Mind Set On You" video 1 from Cloud Nine by George Harrison 1988

or

"Got My Mind Set On You" the MTV VMA nominated video from 1990's Cloud Nine by George Harrison

 

It would be the last #1 hit from a Beatle and one of only 3 #1's that George Harrison would ever have as a solo artist.  It was a cover of a 25 year old song, that never charted when originally released.  It was also the #1 hit the week prior to The Beatles being inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame, making George Harrison among the elite artists to have a #1 single at the time of his induction.   

The single would be one of 2 that would hit the Billboard Hot 100 ("Back When We Was Fab" was the other) from the #8 comeback album Cloud Nine.  His iconic status afforded him the luxury of having some of rock's greatest players as musicians for the album.  Jeff Lynne (ELO), Eric Clapton, Elton John, Gary Wright ("Dream Weaver"), Ringo Starr, as well as high profile session musicians, Jim Keltner(Drums), Ray Cooper(drums and percussion), Jim Horn(baritone and tenor sax), Bobby Kok (cello), and Vicki Brown (lead vocals for "Shanghai Surprise) would contribute to the resurgence to popular music Harrison sought after having a 5 year hiatus from recording and a 15 year stretch from the charts.  

His continued collaborations with Lynne would lead to the forming of supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. The group never toured or performed together live.  After the death of Orbison, Harrison and company would record the second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3  in tribute and memorium.  Harrison suggested the title according to Lynne "to confuse the buggers"  ("Wilburys Set To Travel Again" USA Today June 6, 2011 Life/Music).

 

George Harrison's comeback with Cloud Nine would mark the last solo studio album released during Harrison's lifetime.  It would return him to popular music and bring back to the minds of music listeners the sound of The Beatles.  It would be one of the pieces of the puzzle that would come together later to inspire 1995's The Beatles Anthology.

As we have traveled down our musical roads together, The Notes has attempted to highlight wherever possible the pathway to eternal life with God.   George Harrison, in like manner, used his music to point to the religion of Hare Krishna.  The Notes confesses to a lack of knowledge on Hare Krishna so therefore, we make only this conclusion.  From what we do know, Hare Krishna is not a religion dedicated to putting on the mind of Jesus, therefore, it should be considered one of the false religions to which the Bible refers in the New Testament:

  1 John 4:1-6 The Message/King James Version Parallel

True belief is to understand that Jesus was the Son of God.  Born in a miraculous way, via the virgin Mary.  Lived the life of a carpenter's son.  Fulfilled his calling as a preacher of the Good News, and eventually become a sacrifice for all of the world's sins, through the most torturous death ever created.  He would then be buried after dying a physical death on the cross, and would rise to be physically seen by over 500 people who were followers. (1 Corinthians 15:6-9 The Message/King James Version Parallel)  He promised, as He ascended to the right hand of God, to return for those who believe in Him.  Followers of Jesus await that day.   And as they wait, the attempt to become more like Him.

I Corinthians 2 The Message/King James Version Parallel,

 

 Phillipians 2:5-11 The Message/King James Version Parallel,

 

 Ephesians 5:1-2 The Message/King James Version Parallel,

 

Romans 12:2 The Message/King James Version Parallel,

The above passages support the idea of setting our minds on the things of Jesus.  This process may very well take time, a whole lotta precious time, in fact it may take patience and time, to get it right, child.  But the end results will be worth more than a whole lotta spending money.  This process transforms you into the likeness of Jesus causing you to love everyone.  It causes you to love everyone with a sacrificial love that puts their needs ahead of yours.  It causes you to love everyone enough to tell them about Jesus regardless of the persecution you will face.  It causes you to provide resources for those who can physically cross oceans to love other folks when we can't.  It also causes you to physically cross oceans to love other folks when you can.  More importantly, it causes you to love the other folks that you come into contact every day.  It is a daily process that can only be achieved by spending time with Jesus...by putting our mind on Him, from our waking moments until we pass into dreamland.  Our goal should be to spend time with Jesus to the point that He transforms us so much into His likeness that others around us see Him and not us.  And that's how we know it's for real, the feelings that we feel, we know if we put our minds to it, we know love really can do it...

This process of transformation to having the mind of Christ really becomes our next step...beyond belief...

"Beyond Belief" from 1990's Beyond Belief by Petra

or

"Beyond Belief" Petra from Farewell DVD

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Touch Of Grey" (The Grateful Dead)

Welcome to the best day of the week!!!  It's the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the 6th Tuesday of the year, and the Tuesday before St. Valentine's Day!   Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes! 

If you follow the entertainment industry, you realize that this season is usually full of the color red, and there will be many mentions of the color gray (or grey depending upon how you want to use it).  As usual, The Notes has a little something to say about that and much, much more... so let's get started.

Mr. Garcia will see you now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvk0fWtCs0

In Chicago, on July 3-5th of this year, a celebration will ensue.  Deadheads of the world will unite for the 50th anniversary of one of Rock-N-Roll's most iconic bands...The Grateful Dead.  They were ranked #57 in Rolling Stone Magazine's Greatest Artists Of All Time issue.  11 of the band's members were inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and they are listed in the 1998 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for having performed the most rock concerts (2,318).  

In their 50-year existence, The Grateful Dead has only had 2 singles on Billboard's Hot 100.  "Truckin'" from the 1970 album American Beauty, which peaked at #64 in 1971, and today's feature song "Touch of Grey" from 1987's In The Dark, going as high as #9 in 1987. These 2 songs would be the only chart success for the band who claimed to never perform any song the same way.   Proof of this would be in the fact that, unlike many concert performers, The Grateful Dead would encourage folks (Tapers) to record their concerts as long as the recordings were not sold for profit.  The Dead was also known as the band to perform the freest concerts...ever.  There must be something to both of those things as The Grateful Dead's concert tours of the 1990s were the 2nd highest moneymakers of all, only being beat out by The Rolling Stones.  The tour made over $285 million in revenue during this time which is astounding considering the fact that The Grateful Dead ceased touring in 1995 following the death of Jerry Garcia.  They had been touring for most of 30 years and were at the peak of their success during this time.  "Oh well, a touch of grey kinda suits you anyway..."

We have lost several important things as a society over the years.  Music that means something, the art of mentoring, the age of chivalry, a good malt shop...  These things have been lost due in some ways to the fact that we don't listen to those with a touch of grey adorning their temples.  The apostle Paul emulated the art of mentoring and the young pastor Timothy accepted and acted upon Paul's wisdom as he guided the churches in which he had contact.  Even today, parents, grandparents, and guardians attempt to use the experiences of their past to pass on wisdom to the next generation.  The notes confess to being at a very odd stage in our lives.  We seem to be in the situation to still be mentored, but also to be at a point of mentoring another.  We look in the mirror and see that touch of grey, well maybe it's more than a "touch", and begin to wonder about the wisdom that is reflected and passed on by the way we live our lives.  Paul has some advice that I think can work both ways as a mentor and mentoree...

 1 Timothy 4:12 The Message/NIV parallel

There is a great deal of responsibility in this whole idea of being an example as a believer.  One we should consider this coming heart-filled, rose-covered season, especially if we go to the movies.

In the marketplace of ideas, truth, and purity will always win out over lies and licentiousness.  This St. Valentine's Day weekend, followers of Jesus can prove that point at the box office.  There is a non-grey alternative:

"Old Fashioned" trailer

Imagine what would happen in Hollywood if this small, independently made movie made more at the box office than the over-publicized, sensationalized book-turned-movie.  Would the entertainment industry report it?  The Notes tenderly encourage followers of Jesus in short, to not be utilizing God-given resources to support the "Hollywood" film.  They should consider at least seeing the film that regards chivalry as a good thing and uses the Bible as the benchmark for courtship, love, and yes even sex.

I think Paul's caution to Timothy applies in this situation and with a wisdom that comes with a touch of grey beginning to crown our temples we submit to you this thought as you celebrate St. Valentine's Day...

"but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity"

 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "In Your Eyes" (Peter Gabriel)

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  It's the first Tuesday of February and the day after groundhog day!!!

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  It's the first Tuesday of February and the day after groundhog day!!!

Wait...didn't I just say ...uh oh...

Groundhog Day trailer

Yesterday was a day that is celebrated every year, at least in Puxatwney, Pennsylvania, with much pomp, circumstance, and grandeur.  A very spoiled groundhog is used in place of meteorological science to predict what the weather will be like for the next 6 weeks.  Accuracy of the forecasts vary depending on the source and range from 39% - 90%.  Phil did see his shadow and the legend has it that we are in for at least 6 more weeks of winter.  The Notes defers to local meteorologists and their expertise...on second thought...maybe we should stick to the groundhog?...

It's the first Tuesday in February so The Notes today is a reprint/reimagining of a Tuesday's Musical Notes, the email.  Originally sent in March 1, 2011.  Enjoy!!!

Upon reading today's title for Tuesday's Musical Notes, you probably began feeling a tingling in your ears...no that is not a medical condition, it's a psychological trauma called an ear worm.  Yep, you are more than likely going to hear Peter Gabriel's haunting refrain over and over... if the condition lasts for more than 2 or 3 days, you should probably consult your local DJ, but be prepared...those guys have been known to... say anything...

Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes" from the 1986 album So, featured in the 1989 movie Say Anything...

 

Because of its prominent featuring in the 1989 movie Say Anything..., "In Your Eyes" would make a return to Billboard's Hot 100 in '89 going as high as #41.  The single, from the 1986 album So, originally peaked at #26 for Peter Gabriel.  "In Your Eyes" would be Peter Gabriel's first gold record as it became certified by selling its 500,000th unit in 2005.  While it has become iconic because of Say Anything, "In Your Eyes" has had a large of amount of exposure.  It has been parodied and used in everything from the television show Glee to Comedy Central's The Daily Show.  Most of the time with the comic use of a boombox.  For those of you born post 2000, a boombox was the mechanism by which music was transmitted to music listeners beginning around 1980.  Shown Here:

  While boomboxes are still in use, their popularity faded with the advent of digital music and the cd.  You can still find them at beaches or other large outdoor parties or as the musical soundtrack provider to the occasional outside-the-lost-love's-window, romantic interlude.  It joins the record player, transistor radio, the Walkman, and now mp3 players in the broadcast of that which has the power to transform situations, translate barriers, and transfer emotion...the incredible gift of music.

Tuesday's Musical Notes is firmly convicted that God created music.  Not sacred music, nor secular music, but music.  Man has taken this perfect creation, as he has so many of God's perfect creations, and turned it into something much less than what it was originally intended.  Regardless of its fallen state, music has the ability to evoke strong emotions in each of us.  Our memories are stirred and the nostalgia of a moment is recalled when just the right tune is played.  

As we listen to a broad variety of music we soon find a  genre that we migrate towards and develop a sense of likes/dislikes.  We do something similar with our eyes as we encounter people.  As we see other folks,  our minds gravitate towards the physical attributes and personality nuances that allow us to judge our like/dislike of that individual.  When tend to incline ourselves towards those in which we have much in common.  Conversely, we gravitate away from those in which there is little ground for agreement with us.   This movement towards/away from others is what happens when we view others through the lens of our own understanding.  

However, as followers of Jesus, we attempt daily to put away the manner in which the world views things and put on the mind of Jesus.  As we do this, God gives us the ability to see others as he does.  Unfortunately, this is much more difficult for us than it may appear.  Yet it wasn't for Jesus.   In fact, the very first person Jesus revealed his deity to was a prostitute.  Just think of the stigma that we attach to that particular sin.  It was equally disgusting to people in the first century.  in fact, Jewish law dictated that a woman and man caught in an adulterous act should be put to death.  (Leviticus 20:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible)  Jesus saw the Samaritan woman at the well for who she was in God's eyes, not through the eyes of the world and the sin that plagued her.  You can read the entire story here:  John 4:1-42 The Message/New International Version parallel

As we encounter folks this week, let's ponder "Who has God placed in my path so I might see the person and not their plague?"  As we put on the mind of Jesus, the blinders come down and our judgement of people becomes our joining with people by serving them.  Can that be scary?  Absolutely.  Could it be dangerous?  On occasion.  Is it worthwhile?  According to John's account, many in the Samaritan village were changed forever, because of the woman's testimony of how Jesus viewed her.  

The Notes confesses to a paradigm shift in our way of thinking about ourselves and others based on today's passages of scripture.  From time to time, we have heard a message or lesson from a well intentioned follower of Jesus who referred to themselves and maybe even to others as "worthless" or other derogatory language to prove their point.  However, we see in today's passage, Jesus' appraisal of the Samaritan woman as one of great worth.  In fact, we would say that this woman was considered "priceless" in Jesus eyes.  Jesus died for her.  Jesus died for you.  Jesus died for me.  Please note that there is a HUGE difference between being "unworthy" and being "worthless".  While we are "unworthy" because of our sin to be the recipients of His incredible mercy and grace, we are "priceless" in God's eyes and become worthy because of what Jesus has done for us and will continue to do in us as we mature in our walk with Him.  Shortly before his death, with his physical faculties fading, John Newton author of the classic hymn "Amazing Grace" was credited with saying:

“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour!”

Every day, as we put on the mind of Jesus (Phillipians 2:5), we must remember how to view people through God's eyes.  All around us are those in dire need of deliverance.   Look through the lens of love this week as God puts people who have a myriad of sin in their lives, into your pathway.  Perhaps you even need to look in the member and recall the God thinks of you as "priceless" because of His love for you.  Remember not to judge anyone, including those who profess belief in Jesus, for their sin, but be an encourager for change, and edifier for redemption, a example of forgiveness, and whatever else you need to be so you can say to God someday.....I saw what they could be "In Your Eyes"...   

  

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy