Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Desperado" (The Eagles)

Welcome to the last Tuesday of January!  It is difficult to believe that we are already this far into 2016.  Our minds tell us that logically time is a constant, however with each passing year it seems that particular commodity goes by faster and faster.  You've heard of this phenomena all your life from mentors (don't have one, get one!) and those older than you.  Now it seems perhaps that THEIR experience is fast becoming YOUR reality.  There never seems to be enough time to get work completed, invest in familial and friendship relationships, AND have a spare moment to play records...or whatever leisure task best befits you...I would strongly encourage spinning records if given the opportunity... but I digress.  

In recent weeks, popular music has seen the death of 2 iconic figures, David Bowie and Glen Frey.  Tuesday's Musical Notes has featured music by both of these artists:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Peace On Earth", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Seven Bridges Road" and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Please Come Home For Christmas". 

The lives of David Bowie and Glen Frey are examples of how creative people can not only make a name for themselves in the music industry but carve and solidify entirely new niches of artistry.  Bowie created Glam Pop with his Ziggy Stardust persona and Glen Frey as founding member of the Eagles wrote and co-wrote songs with Don Henley that continue to define "folk" rock.   

Today we feature a song written by Glen Frey and Don Henley.  It has been covered by more than 25 artists and is featured on numerous "Greatest Hits" packages of the band they formed together, the Eagles.  Frey and Henley formed the foundation of a band that has seen many incarnations.  The original recording of "Desperado" appeared on the album of the same name.   It included the Eagles lineup of  Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Don Henley, and Glen Frey.  Though it was never released as a single, the song's popularity caused Rolling Stone Magazine to list it at #494 on its 2004 list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  The Western Writers Of America also posted accolades on the song by naming it one of its Top 100 Western Songs of All Time.   

"Desperado" by The Eagles from 1973 (this video live in New Zealand 1995)

"Desperado" by Glen Frey (video from Late Night With Dave Letterman 1984)

One of the reasons the song "Desperado" is so endearing to fans is its ability to relate.  At some point or another in our lives, we have been that person who has been beat by the queen of diamonds or had a hard time telling the nighttime from the day.  It is a song about searching for our place in the world as well as a longing to have folks to which we can share that place.  In one sense, "Desperado" is about the DNA of community that is built into us when we are created.  We were never meant to live our lives alone.

For followers of Jesus, this comfort comes in the form of Holy Spirit.  He is the "friend" and "comforter" persona of God that dwells in the Christian.  He shares equal status with God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, but His role is different than Creator or Sacrifice.  His duty is that of being with us until Jesus either meets us in heaven at our death or He comes at the end of time as we know it.  

Until the time of Jesus' ascension, Holy Spirit had a limited role in the workings of mankind.  There are folks in the Old Testament who were given Holy Spirit to do the works that God had called them to do.  His activities in those folks lives were for a specific task and time.  As an example, see how Holy Spirit is integral in the making of the instruments of worship for the Children of Israel to use in the tabernacle while in the wilderness:  Exodus 31 New International Version (NIV) of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel.  And  in Psalm 51 NIV/The Message parallel, David begs God to allow Holy Spirit to remain with him as he repented of his sin.  

In the New Testament, Jesus well understood how His disciples would feel upon His arrest and crucifixion.  He realized that the human heart was meant for community and companionship.  He had 3 years invested in that community and companionship with them and His death would bring upon a great sense of loss and anxiety.  That's why He promised the disciples that at the lowest point of their lives, the point where nothing they had done for the last 3 years made any sense, that He would send The Companion that would make everything clear.  John 14:15-21 NIV/The Message parallel  Holy Spirit would also provide for their needs in adversity:  Mark 13:10-12 NIV/The Message

This causes the question, "How can one receive Holy Spirit and get the strength and comfort that the disciples had?"  There is a simple answer.  Respond to the urging of Holy Spirit when He convicts you of sin and shows you that Jesus is the only way that your sin can be forgiven.  You see, it is God's desire that no one is separated from Him forever by going to hell.  John 3:16-17 NIV/The Message parallel  According to this passage, God was willing to do anything, so that we could be with Him forever.  His plan at creation was to have a relationship with man forever.  God however, provided man with the ability to choose.  Every day, folks make the same decision Adam and Eve made in the garden of Eden.  They either choose God, or they don't.  However, instead of a Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, post resurrection mankind chooses to surrender to the invitation from Holy Spirit, BELIEVE that Jesus died for the elimination of their sins (that's past, present, and future sins), was physically placed in a sealed tomb for three days, was resurrected and seen in a physical body by many who interacted with Him, and is waiting for God to send Him back to earth to receive the folks who believe all of the preceeding statements, or... they don't.  For those who do not accept Holy Spirit's invitation,  Jesus issues a stern warning:  Matthew 12:31-33 NIV/The Message  According to this passage from God's Word (the Bible) the only "sin" that is unforgivable, is to reject the pleading, in fact the begging of Holy Spirit for you to enter into a relationship with God through the redeeming work of Jesus.  In other words:

Desperado, Why don't you come to your senses
Been out ridin' fences, for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you've got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

 

The recent deaths of notable folks such as Glen Frey makes many people sad.  Why?  Their music continues on, so we won't miss that.  We can still see videos of songs or highlights of their life via YouTube.  With a few exceptions, we've probably never had personal interaction with them.  So why do we have a tug on our heart at the death of an icon?   The Notes contends that our sorrow at the passing of a well known, accomplished person puts us in touch perhaps, with our own mortality.  It causes us to realize that our current reality will not be lasting forever.  It destroys the illusion that things will always be like they are right now.  It causes us to come face to face with finality, a finality that has as its destiny, the uknown.  We really have a fear of the unknown and their is no comfort to be found in friends or family for they have the same anxiety.  But their is a solution.  Jesus told us that He would provide a "Comforter".  John 14-15 NIV/The Message parallel  This Comforter provides a buffer for the fear of the unknown by providing a knowledge of the future in which we can have great conficence.  So dear friend, in the words of the late Glen Frey, "You better let somebody love you......before it's too....late."  (insert piano outtro).

"Holy Spirit" from the 2014 album If We're Honest by Francesca Battistelli

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Cold As Ice" (Foreigner)

Welcome to the place to find history, trivia, and just plain ol' good stuff about your favorite bands and songs!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes comin' at'cha live from the studios of Tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com!  Each week we meet to spin some platters and talk about things that matter.  Today is no exception, and it's what you've come to expect, so here goes!!!  Pull up your hoodie, wrap up in a blanket, warm up your favorite beverage and get ready for a really cool feature song from the 70's.  In fact, this track is so cool, you could say that it is..."Cold As Ice"!!!

"Cold As Ice" from the 1977 self titled album Foreigner

 

As one of the world's best selling bands (80 million albums sold) it is likely that most Tuesday's Musical Notes readers are familiar with the band named Foreigner.  In the mid '70s they released demo tapes to record labels under the band name Trigger, but when getting ready to sign with Atlantic Records they changed their name to Foreigner, due in part to another "signed" band having that name, but also because no matter where they toured in the world some portion of the band would always be foreigners.  3 of the original members where from the United Kingdom (Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, and Dennis Elliot) and three were from the United States (Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi).  

Foreigner saw their eponymous debut album stay in the top 20 for an entire year due to the strength of singles "Feels Like The First Time", "Long, Long Way From Home", and today's feature song, "Cold As Ice". 

"Cold As Ice" would peak at #6 in the Billboard Hot 100.  Part of its popularity is due to one of the most recognizable (and easy to play) piano intros in popular music.  Written by founding members Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, "Cold As Ice" continues to receive consistent air play at "Classic Rock" radio and at karaoke bars around the world. Just in case you need a trivial pursuit Rock-N-Roll edition answer..."Cold As Ice" appears as the #2 track on three different albums, Foreigner, Classic Hits Live/Best Of Live, and Complete Greatest Hits.  

"Cold As Ice" lyrically speaks to a condition of the heart. It is a song that follows in the footsteps of Hank Williams "Cold, Cold, Heart" and precedes Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" (Yes, she did have a gig in between being an LA Laker cheerleader and American Idol Judge).  You probably have encountered at least a few folks in your life whom you would describe with this moniker.  It relays the idea of a person who has no feelings.  They seem to have no concerns for the emotions of others who, by all appearance, should be important to them.  They are typically self-absorbed and only show interest in a relationship with others if it will benefit them.  Seems like I remember a few stories about some people who were just like that...in fact, I've seen it before it happens all the time...

The Bible comments heavily on one's heart condition.  It even appears in some cases that the heart and neck are connected.  The term "stiff-necked" is used frequently to describe the waywardness of the children of Israel.  God describes them in this way four times in Exodus 32-34 New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel.  It seems that seeing a sea split apart for them to pass through was not enough to convince the Children of Israel that they could rely on God.  God even went so far as to say that He would not go with them as they entered into the Promised Land.  The removal of God's presence distressed the Israelites so much that they had a momentary heart and neck transplant.  God, as He so often does, forgave them.  

The most revered King in the history of the Israelites was King David.  This shepherd boy turned King would be an incredible military leader as well as a spiritual leader for the nation of Israel.  But David found himself cold-hearted on one occasion.  In 2 Samuel 11 NIV/The Message parallel, David finds himself at the most self-centered time of his life.  He decides to stay at home when it was expected that he would fulfill his role as king and lead the army into battle.  Because he wasn't where he was supposed to be he succumbs to temptation and has an affair with another man's wife just because he wanted her.  To make matters worse, David's self-preservation senses kicked in so much that he had her husband killed in the battle in which the King should have had the lead.  David went from a fiery hot heart that danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6 NIV/The Message parallel) to being a cold-blooded adulterer/killer.  David later repented of his adulterous/murderous ways and asked God to restore the fire to his heart.  Psalm 51 NIV/The Message parallel

 

These two stories reinforce a couple of very important points.  First, all of us have times when we are cold hearted and self-centered.  This self-adoration is so contrary to the command of Jesus..."Love God...Love others" Matthew 22:36-40 NIV/The Message parallel.  Secondly, only God can be the one to restore the heart to its warm and fleshy, healthy, state.  David begs God to do just that in Psalm 51.  Restoration is what God does.  It is nothing we can do on our own.  This melting/softening of the heart is a process that occurs in God's timing and it isn't always pleasant.  The ultimate result, however, is a heart filled with love for God and man.    

Let's be very clear.  There is a misconception that the melting of the heart can look something like this:

"One Foot In Front Of The Other" from the Rankin/Bass Christmas Special Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

While this makes for a great Christmas fairy tale, it does not resemble what God, and only God, can do to transition the heart of a man.  True transformation of the heart is exhibited by the things we say and do after transformation has occurred.  Matthew 15:16-20 NIV/The Message parallel  Want to know if you are "Cold Hearted", have a "Cold, Cold, Heart" or are as "Cold As Ice"?  Check the things that are coming out of your mouth to and about the folks around you.  More importantly what is your attitude towards God?  Do your actions portray someone who is self-absorbed or others-absorbed?  What are you willing to sacrifice to be as "Cold As Ice"?

"Create In Me A Clean Heart" by Keith Green from the 1984 album Jesus Commands Us To Go

 

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  You've clicked-in to the place where Rock meets Romans, where Jazz meets Jeremiah, where Country meets Chronicles and where YOU can meet and rediscover some of popular music's greatest hits AND get a dose of discipleship in the process!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes!  (insert your favorite leftover New Year's noisemaker sound here!)

The new Tuesday's Musical Notes' year began last week with remembering old times with the New Year's favorite Auld Lang Syne (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Auld Lang Syne")  As we continue to remember 2015, it is with sad hearts that we said goodbye to some very gifted, and some well, interesting, musicians in 2015.  Here is a list of some of the more notable musical finale from this year:  "Musicians Who Died In 2015" - ranker.com

The above article was submitted prior to the last day of the year as on that day, the musical world saw the death of an "Unforgettable" artist, Natalie Cole.

"Unforgettable" - by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole from the 1991 album Unforgettable...With Love

 

If your father is musical legend Nat King Cole and you mom sang with Duke Ellington, there is a pretty strong chance that your vocational choice will be music on some level.  Natalie began her career at age 6 by singing on her father's Christmas album.  At age 11, she began performing in a more professional level. It would be the decade of the 70's before she would hit with the #6 smash, "This Will Be" from the 1975 album Inseperable by Natalie Cole". From 1975 to 1979 she saw her first 6 albums go either Gold or Platinum.  In that same time span, she received a Grammy for Best New Artist (1976) and 2 Grammys for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female (1976 & 1977).  But to a generation of fans she is best known for the 1991 duet album that she did with her dad, Unforgettable...With Love.  The album garnered an impressive 3 Grammy wins (Album of the Year, Record of the Year ("Unforgettable"), and Best Traditional Pop Performance). It also ignited a new generation with a love of and appreciation for Nat King Cole's music.  Natalie Cole died December 31, 2015 of congestive heart failure caused in part by years of substance abuse and addiction.

Dictionary.com defines the word "unforgettable" as something indelibly impressed on the memory.  Can you think of folks in your circle of friends to which that word can be applied?  Are you one that could be described by others in that manner?  What moments in your mind will always seem to exist?

The Notes has affirmed the fact that music has the capacity to stir memories that are indelibly impressed.  In a way, your musical choices serve as the soundtrack of your life.  Some of your favorite songs may remind you of "seasons" of your life or perhaps even evoke the memories of a specific event.  In this way, music has the ability to reinforce memories.  

Many songs in the "Gospel" or "Christian" genre are meant to evoke an experience with someone "unforgettable".   Some incredibly good songs have been written about some of these specific moments of our lives. ""I Never Shall Forget The Day" by the Speer Family" or ""I've Just Seen Jesus" by Sandi Patti and Larnell Harris" or maybe ""I Need A Miracle" by Third Day" are just a few examples of incredible interactions of an unforgettable nature.  The inspiration for these songs are found in the unforgettable encounters that folks had with Jesus as told to us through the Bible.

In the Old Testament, an encounter with Jesus is called a Theophany, a preincarnate appearance of Jesus on earth.  When asked about these occurences, Answers In Genesis provides this excellent study:  "Theophanies In The Old Testament" by Tim Chaffey from Answers In Genesis, January 13, 2012).  As you can see, Biblical patriarchs, Abraham and Jacob, both had experiences that they would never forget which involved Jesus.  What has your experience with Jesus been?

Fast forward to the New Testament age.  Jesus comes as an incarnate, fully physical human being to earth.  His birth would be the beginning of a life of unforgettable encounters with the people who came within His circle of influence.  Surely, Mary and Joseph would have been among the list of those who regaled their extraordinary times that were caused by Jesus.  The shepherds were given a front row seat to the birth of the One they had been told about for ages.  Later, the wise men were said to "worship" the child as they experienced His presence.

 

As you read the Gospels of Jesus, (The Gospel Of Jesus according to Matthew New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel, 

 

The Gospel of Jesus according to Mark NIV/The Message parallel,

  

The Gospel of Jesus according to Luke NIV/The Message parallel,

  

The Gospel of Jesus according to John NIV/The Message parallel)

 

you soon realize that each time that Jesus has a conversation with a person and in some cases merely walks by them, their lives are no longer the same.  He has an unforgettable effect on them.  From His encounter with a prostitute at a well to His explanation of who He was to the religious ruling class (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea), Jesus, as the physical embodiment of God, had an opportunity to impact lives that would be forever remembered.  Each of the disciples lives were totally transformed as they gave up their specific vocations and passions to follow Jesus and later begin the Church all around the globe.  In the Book of Acts, we are introduced to one of the last transformational occurrences that coming into contact with Jesus would cause.  Saul, a persecutor of Christians, has a life changing experience with the risen Jesus as he is traveling on the way to Damascus.  Saul's meeting with Jesus on that Damascus road would forever remain burned into the mainframe of his mind.  It would become the driving force by which he would repent of his prior life, and become the Apostle Paul.  (Acts of the Apostles 9:1-31 NIV/The Message parallel)

So, friend, have you had an encounter with Jesus that you could describe as unforgettable?  You certainly would know it if you had.  Please understand that what we are describing is NOT, coming to the front of someone's church and reciting a scripted prayer.  While eternal life change can occur in this fashion, that is not the way the Bible describes how an interaction with Jesus can forever change us.  You see, the Bible says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  You turn over control of your life.  You believe that Jesus died as a payment for your wrong doing against God.  You believe that Jesus came back to life and is alive with God, still mediating for your wrong doing.  The Bible says, YOU WILL BE SAVED.  Not sure how much simpler it could be than that.

 

In fact, you could say that it's incredible,
that something so life changing is...unforgettable.

"How Can It Be", title track from the 2015 album by Lauren Daigle

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Auld Lang Syne" (Kenny G)

Welcome to Tuesday!!      I hope you had a great Christmas season and are in anticipation of what the Lord has planned for you in 2016!  You have found the place where music and ministry merge.  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  The Notes is a weekly blog that started in 2011.  For nearly a year, it was an email sent to friends and family as way to keep in touch and to share some insights on passions that exist in my life.  Scripture, Staffs, and syllables all combine to make some of the most beautiful music ever created whether it is classical, pop, country, christian, or any of the other multitude of musical genre.  The Notes firmly believes that God created music...all the various and defined genre's (including rap) as a means of allowing His creation to celebrate and honor Him. Many of the original emails have not made it to the blogosphere as yet, so we take the first Tuesday of each month to flashback a few years.  Today's Notes is a perfect example of the flashback!  We look back to an email written in 2011 about a song written in the late 1700s about looking back...Today's blog is a reprint from a newsletter article I wrote in 2008.  If you are NOT currently getting Tuesday's Musical Notes, and WOULD LIKE TO, email me at rawacr@gmail.com. Thank you for all that you allowing our visits together with "Tuesday's Musical Notes" this year.  I count each of you as a blessing. “Times Gone By”  Flashback to 1929.  Popeye appears for the first time in comic strips.  Herbert Hoover is inaugurated as the 31st President of the United States.  The stock market crashes in October.  But before all of these things can occur, Guy Lombardo performs a song with his Royal Canadians that will stand the test of time all over the world. Translated into English as, “Times Gone By”, “Auld Lang Syne” became a favorite in the United States as a theme for the New Year.  It eventually became the Royal Canadians theme song and has played as the first song of each year in Times Square since most people alive can remember.  It charted on Billboard's hot singles for the first time in 2000 as we watched the Millennium come in and listened to Kenny G's soft soprano sax play the familiar tune. Enjoy this trip down memory lane:  "Auld Lang Syne - The Millenium Mix" from the 1999 album Faith by Kenny G             Psalm 77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “remember”, or its derivative, is used 210 times.  Many of those times, the negative connotation of “remember” is used when the writer is asking God to “remember not the iniquities of the people”.  But most of the time it is a word used to reinforce a principle of times past, or as a way of asking for prayer support.   The Psalmist used the word remember more than any other writer.  Whether it was the shepherd David writing about remembering God's mercy overflowing, or  King David writing about remembering God's provision and discipline, the Bible is replete with examples of using our memories to teach us about God and the life he has planned for us. Yet there is some difficulty with remembering.  The act in and of itself is more problematic with age and the passage of time.  And sometimes as we remember, the story changes even to the point of occasionally being inaccurate.  Reality may become diluted in nostalgia. We must guard against the desire to embrace the nostalgia of our past rather than learn from the reality of our past.   Auld Lang Syne evokes memories.  The Bible teaches that we are to remember the ways that God has worked in our lives and give thanks.  Make sure you take some time at the beginning of this New Year to  remember, learn ......and give thanks.    You are probably very familiar with the melody, but perhaps the lyric, other than the title and first verse, are something you've never heard.  Here is the complete lyric, translated into English: Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! and surely I’ll buy mine! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine†; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give me a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.            For auld lang syne, my dear,            for auld lang syne,            we'll take a cup of kindness yet,            for auld lang syne. Happy New Year!!! "When All Is Said And Done" by Geoff Moore and the Distance from the 1993 album Evolution 'Til Tuesday, Serving HIM by serving you, Randy