Ahh, it seems like only yesterday. Whether they would admit it or not, even the tough guys on campus were listening, maybe in secretly but they were listening, to the band Air Supply. Many a romance was kindled by this Australian band's music. When they released the single "Lost In Love", many Americans thought they were listening to a brand new band when in fact, 1980's Lost In Love, the album, was the fifth studio release by the band and the title cut had originally been released in 1979. Air Supply's prior releases had been hugely popular in their adopted country of Australia, but had failed to connect worldwide. In fact, the original release of "Lost In Love" from 1979's Life Support, went as high as #13 on the Kent Record report, Australia's version of Billboard, but never charted anywhere else until the 1980 release. Here from 1979 AND 1980 is Air Supply with "Lost In Love"
"Lost In Love" - Air Supply from the 1980 album Lost In Love
The band's success in Australia was enough to draw the attention of hit maker Clive Davis and his label, Arista Records. With its signature single in place, Air Supply would compile additional music for the release of Lost In Love. Due to the steady sales of the title track, Air Supply would solidify its pop music status by releasing "All Out Of Love", and "Every Woman In The World" as singles from the album. Both would go into Billboard's top ten and garner Air Supply recognition through the 1980s award circuit, as well as causing Lost In Love to go as high as #22 on the album chart.
I am not ashamed to admit it.....I loved Air Supply!! When I was in high school, I could sing as high as Air Supply's lead singer Russell Hitchcock and constantly belted out their songs while driving a 1980 Camaro...is that the definition of a conundrum? The girls seemed to like it. But I digress...
We mentioned in last week's blog, Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm A Believer", the fact that the 10 Commandments were written with the focus on relationships. The first 4 regard our relationship with God, the last 6 bring in our relationship with our fellow man. If you look really hard at the 10 Commandments it is easy to see that the relational values associated are based on love. How much do we love God? Are we willing to put everything else aside to do what He has asked us to do? How much do we love our fellow man? Are we willing to lay down our lives for a brother? Jesus thought we should be able to answer a resonunding "YES!!!" to these questions.
As followers of Jesus, Christians should be putting on the mind of Christ every day. That includes loving God and others more and more every day. Jesus' love was demonstrated by how He treated the folks He encountered. The Gospels, Matthew - Holman Christian Standard Bible/The Message Paraphrase parallel, Mark - HCSB/The Message parallel, Luke - HCSB/The Message parralel, and especially John - HCSB/The Message parallel, all record the life of Jesus as one who went about exhibiting love without condition. By the power of Holy Spirit, we have the ability to love just like Jesus loved, without condition, or regard for our own safety. This is a cause for pause as we must evaluate our relationship with Jesus to determine our followship of Jesus.
Friend,
how much do you love Jesus? Ponder that for just a moment....
How much do you love Jesus? Would you describe your relationship as being
"Lost In Love"? Would your closest friends affirm that you love Jesus
if you
asked them? How could they tell? Do your periphery friends know that
you love Jesus? If so, how? The Bible speaks many times about the
"Fruits of the Spirit". Those are the attitudes and attributes that are
produced in you as an outward reflection of the gift of Holy Spirit
that you received upon your repentant redemption experience, or your
salvation. Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB/The Message parallel.
According to Paul, if we are indwelt by Holy Spirit our lives should
exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
gentleness, and self control. Time for a check up on this check list.
How do we measure up?
Take a few minutes and read the book of James from the Bible. It is only 5 chapters long and won't take much time to read. Here's a link: James - HCSB/The Message parallel.
You may have noticed a lot of talk about faith and works. Let me state this plainly, works alone will not deliver you from the enemy. However, I believe the Gospel is not carried out in your life just because you have made a profession of faith in Christ. I am not saying that you are not delivered, but the Gospel is not carried out in your life until there are outward signs of the inward condition. The Gospel is carried out in you and through you by your works.
Take a few minutes and read the book of James from the Bible. It is only 5 chapters long and won't take much time to read. Here's a link: James - HCSB/The Message parallel.
You may have noticed a lot of talk about faith and works. Let me state this plainly, works alone will not deliver you from the enemy. However, I believe the Gospel is not carried out in your life just because you have made a profession of faith in Christ. I am not saying that you are not delivered, but the Gospel is not carried out in your life until there are outward signs of the inward condition. The Gospel is carried out in you and through you by your works.
So, for whom do you
work? Now please don't misunderstand me, I am not asking about the boss at your vocation, but I'm inquiring as to what inward condition is
displayed based on your outward signs? Are you so Lost In Love with
Jesus that you can't wait to see what He is calling you to do for His
kingdom? Could someone who doesn't know
you, know for whom you work? You may have seen this video, but I think
it is worth a second, or third glance. What inward condition is on
display?
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
So for whom do we
work? What are our priorities? How is it that we are too tired to go
to church on Sunday evening and Wednesday, but not to the baseball or
soccer fields? Are we more willing for our students to use gifts,
talents, and abilities in school programs rather than in kingdom
work? Do our children see us work as hard at church as they see us work
in "secular" endeavors? What inward condition are you displaying?
Do we show how lost we are in His love?
35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Hillsongs United - "Perfect Love" from 2007's In A Valley By The Sea
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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