Hello.
Today is Tuesday, November 17th, 2015. For the most part, we have
attempted to strike a very positive tone with our musings about music.
You may notice a different feel today as we explore some of the events
that have transpired over the course of the last week as well as the
last few years. Many will remember today's song from the anti-war
protests of the '60s. It was one of the most requested songs on the
radio in the very early 70's. It reached the top 40 three times. It's
initial release by the group The Original Caste went to #34 on the Billboard charts in early 1970. The song was then recorded by Jinx Dawson, lead singer of the band Coven, for the soundtrack to the motion picture The Legend of Billy Jack. This recording went to #26 in the fall of 1971. Dawson then recorded the song with Coven for
a full length album released in 1973. This cover again hit the charts
making "One Tin Soldier" one of a select number of songs to chart 3
times in 3 separate years. From the recording by The Original Caste and
with animation from the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, here is "One Tin Soldier":
"One Tin Soldier" The title track to the 1969 album by The Original Caste
"One
Tin Soldier" is the poignant retelling in fable form of what has been
the history of mankind. Since the disobedience of Eden, there has
always been war. Mankind's history is replete of evil people who want
to dominate, destroy, and rule in the way their ideology dictates.
These ruthless villains have and will use whatever means at their
disposal to deprive others of the flexibility that freedom allows. Fear
and terror, as witnessed in the recent episodes in France, are evil's
current modus operandi. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:6 that we should
expect "wars and rumors of wars" in our future. As bold as these
attacks may seem, at their heart they are perpetrated by cowards who
wish to hide behind the shroud of "religion" to justify their heinous
deeds. Their limits to seeing their ideology propagated knows no
boundaries. They will destroy, again in the name of their religion,
anything that is contradictory to their dogma.
While you can't always trust everything you read on facebook, here is an interesting dialogue that parallels today's Notes:
Please
understand that we support and sympathize with the people of France.
However, we find it somewhat ironic that some of the folks who were
willing to boycott eating "french" fries just a few years ago are now
some of the most staunch supporters of the "I am France" mantra. While
this smacks at being hypocritical, I find it even more appalling that
there are those who want to use this tragedy to indoctrinate our country
with the lie that islam is a peaceful religion. These are the acolytes
of an agenda of evil that runs contrary to history in so many different
ways. These pundits attempt to separate the radicals from the
"peaceful", normal adherents to this religion.
The "Allahu"
that we have heard so many times in recent years as a rallying cry, is a
false god. When the media report that the translation for this phrase
is "god is great" they allow themselves to be used as a propaganda tool
of the enemy of the One True God.
In reality, the only
"peaceful" muslims are those who practice their religion with same
passion as "nominal" christians. Both "peaceful" and "nominal" are non
sequiturs for those who want to feel they have a form of "religion" yet
lack the substance of relationship. They are neither cold nor hot.
Both are equally destructive. Both are utilized by the enemy of the One
True God to confuse.
Many
in this world would negate the history that the Bible plainly
explains. Evil entered the world through deception and continues to
ruin and end lives by its constant war against God. From Genesis
through Revelation, this war is depicted. Post Biblical history is
ignored or revised to make the enemies of God more palatable, more
humane, perhaps even justified in their attempts to overthrow that which
is good and take our world back to the 3rd century where their
adherents choose to reside. This would be the result if compromise with
the "peaceful" religion of islam is attempted.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to love. In fact we are commanded to love God first and then our fellow man. Matthew 22:34-40 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible parallel
The Notes contends that this love is to be extended for as long a
period of time as folks will listen. When people choose to no longer
listen to the Good News or refuse its message outright, they become
enemies of God. Matthew 10:11-15 NKJV/The Message paraphrase
This is a hard truth, yet one we must recognize as we go about doing
the good works that God has planned for us to do. It is a hard truth in
the face of the fact that we have a story to tell to the nations. A
Good News message of freedom and liberty from the evil that so easily
ensnares this world. We can't save anyone, only God can do that. When
confronted by the Good News of Jesus Christ, praise God, there will be
those who accept His salvation yet sadly, there will be those who
respond, "If I go to hell, I go to hell". Our job is to joyfully go
about telling the story of our redemption through love and then let the
Holy Spirit convict the hearts of the hearers. The response is up to
them.
Thank
you for this brief departure of tone from Tuesday's Musical Notes. We
return next week with the atmosphere that you have come to expect from
reading this blog that we are thankful to get to write each week.
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
