Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Garden Party" (Rick Nelson)

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There are possibly more countries that aided in this milestone for the blog, but there are limits to the record keeping that a free blog can maintain.  Thank you all so much for your continued patronage.   We hope Tuesday's Musical Notes is a value added resource of fun and inspiration to you each week.  We are certainly glad that you join us each week.  Welcome again!!! 

It is spring.  In the Southern part of the United States, it becomes the perfect time for Spring Teas.  Most men don't get invited, so I really don't have much of a concept of what a "Spring Tea" might involve.  I imagine it is a group of women and young ladies dressing in colorful clothing and wearing hats, nibbling at scones, and sipping at their favorite Earl Grey, pinkie finger extended of course.  Sometimes it is held indoors, but the most effective Spring Teas are held outside.  In fact, many wind up being quite the garden party...


"Garden Party" the title track from the 1972 album by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band

What do you do as a child when your father is a famous band leader, your mother is that band's famous lead singer, and both become radio personalities?  Why you join them, that's what!  So was the life for an 8 year old, Eric Hilliard Nelson, better known to the world as "Ricky". The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet became a radio hit, by telling the story of the family as life happened through the forum of dramatized radio presentations.   As did happen with some of the "radio dramas" of the time, the Nelson family transitioned to the new entertainment media called television.  Their TV show took the radio name, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and for 14 years (1952-1966) audiences tuned in to relate to the happenings around the Nelson home.  During this time, the Nelsons saw television transform into "living color" and son Ricky become a music success. 

Ricky Nelson's musical career flourished between 1957 and 1973 where he saw 53 of his songs go into Billboard's Hot 100.  His song from 1958, "Poor Little Fool", went straight to #1. It became the first #1 on the newly formed Billboard Hot 100 chart.  From 1957 to 1962, he had 30 top 40 hits.  The only other artists during this time period to have more singles go to the top 40 were Elvis Presley (53) and Pat Boone (38).  

During the '60s he changed his name to "Rick" and made adjustments to his musical style to fit the times.  He formed the Stone Canyon Band and helped develop what became known as the "California Sound".  This was a sound pioneered by legends Linda Rondstadt (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "When Will I Be Loved?"s), Jackson Browne (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Running On Empty") and later the Eagles (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Seven Bridges Road", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Desperado", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Please Come Home For Christmas").  In fact, Randy Meisner, who was a founding member of the Eagles in 1971, played in the Stone Canyon Band for Rick Nelson.  While seeing some success on the charts during this time, Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band never came to the height of Ricky Nelson's success of the 1950's.  That is until, they went to a Garden Party. 

Rick Nelson's last trip to the top 40 came as a result of being one act in a group of "Oldies" acts that were to perform for the Richard Nader Oldies Concert.  This concert included artists, Bobby Rydell, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley.  When it came time for Rick Nelson to appear, his set list included his hits from the previous decade as well as songs from his newest album, a much different sound than his "oldies" hits.  To make matters worse, Rick Nelson was no longer the clean-shaven son of Ozzie and Harriet.  He was long haired, bell bottom and purple velvet shirt wearing Rick Nelson who was attempting to make new music with a new band.  Rick Nelson and his Stone Canyon Band did not sit very well with the audience that wanted Ricky Nelson to come out and play his hits.  The band was subsequently booed and left the stage.

The #6 song Garden Party is about that event.  Now that you know what Paul Harvey would call "The Rest Of The Story", go back and listen to the song and see if the lyrics make better sense in context.  Here are a few things to look for that referenced the event and the time period:


 

Lyric references

• A garden party - October 15, 1971's Rock 'n Roll Revival concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City
• My old friends - fellow performers at the concert Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Bobby Rydell
• Yoko - Yoko Ono
• Yoko's walrus - John Lennon
• Mr. Hughes - George Harrison
• (Mr. Hughes) hid in Dylan's shoes - Harrison's planned (but later abandoned) album of Bob Dylan covers
• I said hello to Mary Lou, she belongs to me - Nelson's song "Hello Mary Lou", which he played at the concert; also a reference to "She Belongs to Me", a Bob Dylan song covered by Nelson
• I sang a song about a Honky-Tonk - The Rolling Stones song "Country Honk", the song that allegedly caused the booing
• And it was time to leave - Nelson's subsequent departure
• Out stepped Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry's song "Johnny B. Goode"
• Playing guitar like a-ringing a bell - the line in "Johnny B. Goode", "he could play guitar just like a-ringing a bell"

This past weekend many around the world celebrated what could be called the ultimate "Garden Party".  Here is how the eyewitnesses of the Bible put the event:


Matthew 28 New International Version/The Message Paraphrase parallel
Mark 16 NIV/The Message parallel
Luke 24 NIV/The Message parallel
John 20 NIV/The Message parallel


This garden party did not involve scones or tea.  There were no fancy dresses or hats.  In fact, the host of the party could not be found.  Ladies were involved, but they were not happy to be there.   For some additional perspective on one of the ladies who attended click here:  Why Was Mary Magdalene the First Witness of the Resurrection? - Crosswalk.com March 28, 2013. The only real similarity to a modern day garden party was that this event occurred in a garden. This garden event brought about hope.  Hope that goes far past death or the tomb.
 

As Christians all over the world attested to and celebrated that ultimate garden party this past weekend, the host was in heaven making preparations for bringing the guests that He considers brothers and sisters to a celebration where we will have lunch with our old friends forever.  Will you be there?  Da da da.  da dada da...


"Easter Song" by Keith Green from the 1977 album For Him Who Has Ears To Hear


'Til Tuesday,


Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Band On The Run" (Paul McCartney and Wings)

Before we begin our adventure today, The Notes would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued patronage.  You see, this past weekend, Tuesday's Musical Notes surpassed the 10,000 blog "hits".  We are truly humbled. It is our hope that together we have learned more about music, but more importantly we have seen our lives changed by The Messiah.  Transforming more into His likeness everyday.  That is what Tuesday's Musical Notes is all about...Thank You!!!

Welcome to Spring!!!  Welcome to Tuesday!!!  Welcome to the first Tuesday of Spring!!!  Welcome to the first Tuesday's Musical Notes of Spring!!!  It is the time of the year where "new" seems to be sprouting up everywhere.  The trees are budding, Time is back where it should be.  There is a seeming freshness about the air and there is an outflux, if you will, of people getting into their yards and gardens.  There is a freedom that being outside expresses as we shake off being "stuck inside these four walls..."

"Band On The Run" title track from the 1973 album by Paul McCartney and Wings

It would be Paul McCartney's fifth foray into album land after his departure from The Beatles.  It would be the third collaboration with wife Linda and bandmate Denny Laine, making up Wings.  McCartney wanted a tropical location for recording and chose Lagos, Nigeria.  It is fortunate that the album ever made it to print as the original demo for today's single and title track from the album, as well as other demos and lyric sheets were stolen at knife point while in Nigeria. 

"Band On The Run" was taken from a comment that George Harrison made while all of the exBeatles were in litigation with Allen Klein, the manager of their Apple Records label. After the breakup of The Beatles, the "Lads from Liverpool" had felt increasingly trapped by their label responsibilities and were looking for fresh starts.  Klein as manager of the record label was integral of stirring up the animus that existed since the breakup. After obtaining a separation of Klein as manager of Apple Corps, strains amoung the former band members lessened. A freedom, if you will, was obtained by the dissolution of their association.   The album "Band On The Run" would mark the last record produced by The Beatles' Apple Record label, thus marking a formal end to the collaboration of one Rock-N-Roll's most iconic bands.  

While not a musical band, there is a band of men in the Bible that went on the run when put under extreme pressure.  You can find out more about them in the excellent book Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur.  This book tells about the collection of tradesmen, fishermen, a zealot (religious fanatic), and a tax collector who made up the disciples of Jesus. 

These men left their given professions and passions to follow Jesus in the hopes that, as The Messiah predicted in their Scripture (our Old Testament), he would through off the rule of the Roman empire and begin a Hebrew kingdom that had not been seen since the time of David and Solomon.  What they didn't realize is that Jesus was not that sort of king.  And when the pressure was applied at extreme levels they very soon became a "Band On The Run".

Their pressure point occurred in a garden.  This would mark the second time in history where mankind would come to a crossroads in a garden...more about the similarities between Eden and Gethsemane next week.  In Matthew 26:36-56 we read about Jesus going to pray.  He requested His disciples accompany Him and asked them to stay at a distance to watch and pray as He goes for an agonizing quiet time with God the Father.  Taking the inner circle of Peter, James, and John a little further into the garden, Jesus' submits to God's authority, full knowing the horrors that are about to become His reality.  It is at this point, that the humanity of Jesus is most clearly displayed.  After His prayer time, Jesus returns to the disciples to find them asleep.  "Couldn't you stay awake an hour?" 

As Jesus prayer time ended, soldiers that were sent by the religious ruling class arrive with Judas the betrayer in tow.  They arrest Jesus and as Matthew recounts..."Then all the disciples deserted him and fled."   For context on the last moments of Jesus with His disciples, read the entire chapter of Matthew 26 New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel and Mark 14 NIV/The Message parallel."in the town their searching for us everywhere, but we never will be found..."  John and Peter would be the only disciples that stayed close enough to see what was going on with Jesus.  The boldness of John as one of the "sons of thunder" was now replaced by the extreme fear of what was coming to pass.  Peter, who had proudly proclaimed, "Even If all fall away, I will not" was now reduced to yelling at a girl, "I do not know the man"...

We know little about what the remaining disciples did during this long night.  They obviously did not want to be seen for fear of recognition as a disciple.  It is so easy to be critical of them all.  But we must remember this time in the disciples lives as a reflection of our own walk with Jesus.  How do we, like Peter, deny Jesus?  How do we like John, hover in the shadows?  How do we like the remaining disciples hide away, not wanting to be recognized as a follower of Jesus?  

After Jesus' resurrection, the disciples were transformed.  While they still did not completely understand what would be required of them to spread The Gospel, the were engaged.  After seeing Jesus alive, the prophecies that Jesus had made regarding His death, burial, and resurrection, as well as why He did it, began to make sense.  It made so much sense to them that later they and the apostle Paul would be accused of "turning the world upside down".  Acts 17 King James Version/The Message parallel

Today, we have a choice.  This very moment, you get to choose.  If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, The Messiah, you can do that today.  John, the disciple tells us that Jesus said, "whoever believes in Me will not perish, but have eternal life."  Believe.  It's that simple.  If you find this hard to fathom, please email me at rawacr@gmail.com.  I'd love the opportunity to visit with you about this more.  If you don't want to do that, look over a few of the other Tuesday's Musical Notes.  For you email readers, go to tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com and click on the songs listed at the far right of the screen.  Blog readers, just go back to the top of this page and you'll find all of The Notes listed by publication date and title. 

Again, today you are confronted with a choice.  What we believe is demonstrated by our actions.  Will you become a follower of Jesus and turn the world upside down, or be just be another member of a "band on the run"...the freedom you seek is found only in Jesus.

"We Believe" by the Newsboys from the 2013 album Restart

 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (The Proclaimers)

Tip top of a Tuesday mornin' to ya lads and lasses.  Today be the Ides of March, (yes I realize that is a Roman thing, et tu Brute', but roll with me, ok?).  It also is in the big middle of the celebration of everything Irish that culminates with St. Patrick's Day!!!  The time has changed back to normal, and the weather is becoming fresh with the fragrance of Spring!  It's Tuesday and it's time for the tuneful melodies of the isles.  So grab your shillelagh, and your best set of bagpipes and let's get the celebration of the clover and greenery going on this fantastic day!!!  And ya don't have to be travelin' 500 miles to be doin' it!!!   Mora na maidine dhuit!!!

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" from the 1988 album Sunshine on Leith by The Proclaimers

Anyone else want to see the 1993 feature film Benny and Joon now?  The band the Proclaimers sure appreciated the support.  As one hit wonders go, they are the one hit wonderist!  In fact, Craig Reid of the Proclaimers has said that the revenue generated from this "one hit" is 5 times more than the remainder of their complete catalog...combined!  That is one good song!!!  It took 5 years from its initial release in 1988 to make it to the top of the US charts, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song bespeaks of the devotion that one has to the loves of their life.  When they are doing their normal things of life, they wish to be doing them with the folks about which they feel the strongest.  They in fact, are willing to do almost anything, "just to be the man who walked a thousand miles to fall down at your door".  The Notes hopes you have folks around you that are willing to do that for you.  But let's put the proverbial walking shoe on the other foot.

What are you willing to do for those with which you have the strongest relationships?  What are you willing to do for those with which you have an "ok" relationship?  How about those with which you have a casual relationship or no relationship at all?

The Gospel Of Jesus according to Dr. Luke 10:25-37 Holman Christian Standard Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel

Perhaps this is a familiar story to you.  Maybe it is the first time you have read it.  One point of context you must remember while reading it is that Hebrew folks and Samaritan folks really didn't like each other that much.  With that in my mind, please reread this parable. 

Jesus used stories such as this all throughout His ministry.  He took commonplace occurrences, added a touch of the believably extraordinary, and was very direct in His approach to calling into account the pride and prejudice of those who attempted to trap Him. 

The lesson that Jesus has for His followers today is one of exceeding expectations.  This is something that may be difficult to wrap our heads around.  For context, let's go to the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:38-48 New International Version of the Bible/The Message parallel

Here Jesus speaks about ALL of the relationships we could potentially have.  He instructs us to go further than we are commanded to with our enemies and love everyone.  As a follower of Jesus, what expectations are on us?  Do we meet those expectations or are our relationships sketchy due to the perception of expectations unmet?  

"The Silent Killer Of Relationships" - Derek Harvey

From the above blog, you can see that the marriage relationship takes much work and communication to ensure that expectations are perceptually and actually met.  This attitude really must extend to each relationship we may have. 

In view of Jesus, example, Christ followers should not only be perceived/actually meeting expectations, but we should do more than is expected.  When he had a potluck, not only did 5000 (in one instance) folks get fed, but there were enough leftovers, to feed many more.  As a challenge, read the Gospels (Matthew HCSB/The Message parallel, Mark HCSB/The Message parallel, Luke HCSB/The Message parallel, John HCSB/The Message parallel) with the idea of looking for how in many if not all of Jesus relationships, He exceeded the expectations. 

We live in a world where many try to be good folks.  They attempt to be nice to others and indeed, look out for their fellow man.  Some of these folks are followers of Jesus, some, well not so much.  How would the world be transformed if Christ followers adopted the mentality of exceeding the expectations of everyone around them?  And then when asked "why are you going the extra mile for me?"  Our reply could be that we follow someone who walked more than 500 miles to make sure we could have a relationship with Him forever...He walked the streets of Jerusalem carrying a cross, and then was crucified and died.  He then, in the biggest way ever known to mankind, exceeded everyone's expectations by being brought back to life by God the Father on a day that we celebrate very soon.  That is why we do what we do...IF we do what we do..."I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more..."

"That Extra Mile" by the Winans from their 1993 album All Out

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rubberband Man" (The Spinners)

Welcome to Tuesday Cats and Kitties!!!  It's time to get down and get funky with the slickest set of tunes on this side of your computer screen!  It's Tuesday and definitely time for the grooviest blog in the internetosphere...Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  You've tripped into the place that features the best platters from all over the musical universe and slides you a moment or two with the One who created the universe.  So ease on down into your best blog reading posture and get ready for a 70's sonata sure to get your feet tappin' and your face a smilin'..."Hand me down my walkin' cane, hand me down my hat, hurry now and don't be late, 'cause we aint got time to chat..."

"Rubberband Man" by The Spinners from the 1976 album Happiness Is Being With The Spinners

 

In the midst of the "malaise" of 1976, there were moments to be remembered.  Our country was celebrating its bicentennial year, Rocky wins the best picture Oscar, C.W. McCall was part of a "Convoy", while Barry Manilow was busy telling us, "I Write The Songs".  For those of us born in 1964, 1976 would be a rite of passage, graduation from the 6th grade...except for me as I had chickenpox on graduation day...sigh.  The music was heavily influenced by...don't chuckle...Disco and the styles were wide collars and even wider bell bottoms.  Apple Computer came into existence and writer Tome Wolfe declared that the 70s were the "Me decade".  

There are many similarities between 2016 and our leap year brother, 1976.  You can hear the echoes of Disco in many of the electronica and dub step tunes of our day.  The political climate is eerily similar, and there is certainly the need for a song that would be "guaranteed to blow your mind".

For the last 62 years, The Spinners, have been making music that, while not "mind blowing", certainly adds to the fabric of our lives.  Henry Fambrough is the only surviving (and continuing to tour) member of the group which coalesced in 1954 around the idea of showing the world what the Detroit Rhythm and Blues sound was all about.  They continued to pay their dues and keep that sound permeating radio waves.  They bubbled under the top 40 for nearly 20 years when in 1974 they had their first #1 hit, a duet featuring Dionne Warwick, "Then Came You".  This #1 gave the group they cred they needed to be a force in the music industry that would help shape the 70's sound.  But "you never heard the sound" like the #2 hit that would come along 2 years later.

If you were in high school band in the late 70's or early 80's, chances are you played an arrangement of the hit by The Spinners, "Rubberband Man".  With its incredible horn charts, and catchy rhythms, the song was given an extended life due to its popularity as a "stand chart" for High School and college marching bands. 

"Rubberband Man" was written as an homage to one man bands that were popular during the days of carnivals and vaudeville acts..."Bert's One Man Band Composite" - Walt Disney's Mary Poppins from 1964.  Usually these entertainers would piece together their orchestral ensemble around a few musical instrument and piece it together with ordinary articles or discarded items they would find as they traveled the countryside.  They "Macgyvered" their show...so to speak.  "Rubberband Man" describes a man whose ability to make music with the simplest of items, a rubberband, brought wonder and joy to those who would go and see him perform.  This "cat" was one who perhaps didn't have the resources to buy an instrument or engage a teacher for music lessons, but had so much music in him that it needed to have a way of expression.  Ok, so I have extrapolated the meaning of the song maybe a little to make the point of today's blog...

Many, even those living below the poverty level, in America would be considered incredibly wealthy by the standards of the remainder of the world.  We have a prosperity that no other country enjoys.  In religious terms, we have been blessed by God.  The overriding question now becomes, what have we done with our prosperity and blessings?

Let's drill this down to a more personal level.  In the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches a lesson on investment. The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the disciple Matthew 25:14-30 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible parallel The King James Version of the Bible describes the weight of money given to each of the servants as "talents".  It seems ideal to me that the same word used to identify a monetary weight measurement is now used to describe those with a giftedness or skill in regards to artistic endeavors.  But I digress.

According to Investment 101 with Jesus, each of the servants were given amounts according to their ability.  No more, no less. (Emphasis on "according to their ability") The factor that determined whether the servant would be rewarded with more was what they did with what they were initially given.  Two of the servants made profits for the master from his investment in them.  One did not.  Praise and more responsibility were the benefits for those who made a profit.  Removal of the beginning investment, disdain, reproach and separation from the master were the consequences for the one who did not.  

Consider the resources you have.  Again, by the standards of most of the world, residents of the United States are very wealthy.  Did your parents invest in you by using resources to purchase an instrument, provide lessons in art, vocal technique, dance, or other skills that would be considered artistic?  How did you reward their investment?  

God has provided you with a skill set.  He has blessed you or perhaps your parents/guardians with the resources necessary to craft this skill set to honor and glorify Him.  As parents, you have probably invested in some sort of artistic endeavor to assist your children in the process of discovering what their skill set may be.  All of this investing is not to be wasted.  I hear so many stories of horns set aside, pianos used as bookcases, singers who sit in pews, and it reminds me of the investment of the Master on His children.  If you are a parent of a gifted student, please encourage them to go beyond the band concerts, football game halftimes, art exhibits, dance recitals,or choir concerts and explore the uses of their gifts in your local church. Churches all over the country long for musicians, artists, dancers, and those in which the Master has invested, "talents" to be used to give back to their church, their community and ultimately to honor the One in whom the investment originated.  Be ever aware also to the calling to go beyond just use of your talents.  God does call "gifted" folks into vocational ministry for His honor and glory.

I guess what today's Musical Notes is trying to say is we've all been given more than a rubber band, so now, how do we go about using God's investment in us to cause folks to exclaim..."I was so surprised, I was hypnotized by the sound this cat put down"....and then give Him the glory or get the opportunity to hear a story that will be "guaranteed to blow your mind".  "Hey y'all prepare yourself..." 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" (Janet Jackson)

Greetings and Salutations on this fine Super Tuesday!!!!  If your state is having a primary today, make sure that you have exercised your right as a citizen of the United States and VOTE!  Your vote counts!  I have heard so many people say that they would vote for someone, but they didn't think that someone could win.  In essence, they don't want to "waste" their vote.  If you have done your research and prayed over the decision, NO VOTE IS EVER "WASTED".  Sorry about shouting...it's just sad when we live in the best country in the world and we see folks who rely on the polls, pundits, and political parties to get the information they seek on how to vote.  All of these sources are biased and sometimes have done things to manipulate the information they are disseminating.  Do your own research.  Check out the candidates for yourself.  Use the incredible organ that is your mind and make a decision.  Even if your candidate does not win the election, you can rest assured that you have won by doing what was right, based on your OWN opinion...ok, rant over...

Welcome to the place where Tuesday is always SUPER!!!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes with a remix edition from a Musical Note from 2011.  Today's featured song is from the BEST YEAR EVER!!!  She said "Yes" and we said "I Do" in 1986, the same year that Janet Jackson hit the iconic stage (yep, there was a Janet before the wardrobe malfunction) with the release of her third album, Control.  Her from 1986 and 2011 is Tuesday's Musical Notes - "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"

 

     Michael Jackson may have been a musical genius, but his sister Janet was smart enough to surround herself with people who were genius in their own right.  This combination of talent proved good enough to propel her to pop star status in the mid to late '80's.  One of those pairings was with noted producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (from the band The Time).  This collaboration birthed a song that women have been asking for ages...


"What Have You Done For Me Lately?" by Janet Jackson from the 1986 album Control
 

     "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" went as high as #4 on the Billboard charts in early 1986.  The song had been out for a couple of months, but like so many songs of the '80's needed its video companion (choreographed by Paula Abdul) to propel it up the charts.  Ahh the time when MTV still actually played music videos......yep...digression.  "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" spent 21 weeks on the charts and wound up at #43 for the 1986 end of the year countdown on Billboard.  It would be the first of many top 10 singles for Janet from 1986 until 2001.  
  

The song posed the question that many in our society still ask today.  It seems that we have a tendency to remember the recent.  Many people ask God the same thing as they take for granted the very fact that they were able to rise from their bed.  Even in the "Christian community" this mentality has been pervasive.  It seems that we haven't read through the Gospels to discover what Jesus said about servanthood. 


The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Disciple Matthew:20:20-27 New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase parallelof the Bible
The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark:9:33-37 NIV/The Message parallel
The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Dr. Luke: 6:27-30 The Message/NIV parallel
The Gospel Of Jesus Christ according to the disciple John: 15:12-14 NIV/The Message parallel 


With these passages in mind, instead of "What Have You Done For Me Lately?", shouldn't the question be, "What Can I Do For You, Today?"


This topic rears its head often in the area of "worship" in the church.  Why do we attend church in the tradition that we do?  What does the church do for me?  I don't mean "tradition" in the vernacular of "that's what mom and dad always did".  I suppose style would be a better word for it.   Let's face it, there are a myriad of church styles out there.  Even in the Southern Baptist Convention there are differing styles or traditions, but they all have denominational foundations that anchor them together.  People are attracted to the styles that "do" the most for them.  If you are brave enough to broach the subject of worship traditions, you may find yourself in a quandary.  I read a recent article that I have copied for your consideration below.  I think it does a great job of getting to the point that as Christians, we may have differing traditions of what worship looks like, but there are some Biblical guidelines that we must always remember about what worship is.  
 

7 Things We Regularly Get Wrong About Worship

• Joe McKeever
• Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name (Psalm 29:2).

It's Sunday around noonish. As the congregation files out of the sanctuary heading toward the parking lot, listen closely and you will hear it.

It's a common refrain voiced near the exit doors of churches all across this land.

"I didn't get anything out of that today." "I didn't get anything out of the sermon." "I didn't get anything out of that service." "I guess her song was all right, but I didn't get anything out of it."

Sound familiar? Not only have I heard it countless times over these near-fifty years in the ministry, I probably have said it a few times myself.

This is like dry rot in a congregation. Like a termite infestation in the building. Like an epidemic afflicting the people of the Lord, one which we seem helpless to stop.

But let's try. Let's see if we can make a little difference where you and I live, in the churches where we serve and worship. We might not be able to help all of them, but if we bless one or two, it will have been time well spent.

1. You are Not Supposed to 'Get Anything Out of the Service'

Worship is not about you and me. Not about "getting our needs met." Not about a performance from the pastor and singer and choir and musicians. Not in the least.

2. Worship is About the Lord

"Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name." That Psalm 29:2 verse atop our article today is found also in I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8. It deserves being looked at closely.

a) We are in church to give. Not to get.

Now, if I am going somewhere to "get," but find out on arriving, I am expected to "give," I am one frustrated fellow. And that is what is happening in the typical church service. People walk out the door frustrated because they didn't "get." The reason they didn't is that they were not there to "get," but to "give."

Someone should have told them.

b) We are giving glory to God. Not to man.

We know that. At least we say we do. How many times have we recited, "...for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory"? And how often have we sung, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."?

c) We do so because glory is His right. He is "worthy of worship."

This is the theme of the final book of the Bible. 

• "Who is worthy?" (Rev. 5:2) 
• "You are worthy...for you were slain, and have redeemed us" (Rev. 5:9). 
• "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" (Rev. 5:12).

3. Self-centeredness Destroys All Worship

If my focus is on myself when I enter the church--getting my needs met, learning something, hearing a lesson that blesses me, being lifted by the singing--then Christ has no part in it. He becomes my servant, and the pastor (and all the other so-called performers) are there only for me. It's all about me.

We have strayed so far from the biblical concept of worship--giving God His due in all the ways He has commanded--it's a wonder we keep going to church. And it's an even greater wonder that our leaders keep trying to get us to worship.

The poor preacher! Trying to cater to the insatiable hungers of his people, even the best and most godly among them, is an impossible task. One week he gets it right and eats up the accolades. Then, about the time he thinks he has it figured out, the congregation walks out grumbling that they got nothing out of the meal he served today.

The typical congregation in the average church today really does think the service is all about them--getting people saved, learning the Word, receiving inspiration to last another week, having their sins forgiven, taking an offering to provision the Lord's work throughout the world.

Anything wrong with those things? Absolutely not. But if we go to church to do those things, we can do them. But we will not have worshiped.

Warren Wiersbe says, "If you worship because it pays, it will not pay."

4. Evangelism & Discipleship, Giving & Praying, Grow Out of Worship; Not the Other Way Around

The disciples were worshiping on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled them and drove them into the streets to bear a witness to the living Christ (Acts 2).

Isaiah was in the Temple worshiping when God appeared to him, forgave his sins, and called him as a prophet to the people (Isaiah 6).

It was in the act of worship that the two distraught disciples had their eyes opened to recognize Jesus at their table (Luke 24).

5. We are to Give Him Worship and Glory in the Ways Scripture Commands

"Give to the Lord the glory due His name and bring an offering." So commands I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart--these, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)

Singing, praise, rejoicing. Praying, offering, humbling, loving. All these are commanded in worship at various places in Scripture.

The Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). That is, with their inner being, the totality of themselves, their spirit, not just their lips or their bodies going through the motions. And in truth--the revealed truth of how God has prescribed worship to take place. He is not pleased with "just anything" that we claim as worship.

We must balance our worship between spirit (the subjective part: body, soul, emotions) and truth (the objective aspect: all that God has revealed in His word).

6. We Are the Ones Who Decide Whether We Worship upon Entering the House of the Lord

Don't blame the preacher if you don't worship. He can't do it for you.

No one else can eat my food for me, love my cherished ones in my place, or do my worshiping for me.

No pastor can decide or dictate whether we will worship by the quality of his leadership or the power of his sermon. Whether I worship in today's service has absolutely nothing to do with how well he does his job.

I am in charge of this decision. I decide whether I will worship.

When Mary sat before the Lord Jesus, clearly worshiping, He informed a disgruntled Martha that her sister had "chosen the good part," something that "will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). That something special was time spent in worship. Such moments or hours are eternal.

Lest someone point out that Martha could have worshiped in her kitchen by her service for Christ, we do not argue, but simply point out that she was not doing so that day.

7. Remember: Worship is a Verb

And it's an active verb at that.

Worship is something we do, not something done to us.

In the worst of circumstances, I can still worship my God. In the Philippians prison, while their backs were still oozing blood from the beating they'd received, Paul and Silas worshiped (Acts 16:25).

Even if a church has no pastor and has to make do with a stuttering layman or some inept fill-in, I can still bow before the Lord, offer Him my praise, and give Him my all. I can humble before Him and I can bring my offering.

What I cannot do is leave church blaming my failure to worship on the poor singing, the boring sermon, or the noise from the children in the next pew. I am in charge of the decision whether I will worship, and no one else.

Someone has pointed out that ours is the only nation on earth where church members feel they have to have "worshipful architecture" before they can adequately honor the Lord. Millions of Christians across the world seem to worship just fine without any kind of building. Believers in Malawi meet under mango trees, according to retired missionary Mike Canady, and their worship is as anointed as anyone's anywhere. (What? No stained glass!)

Our insistence on worshipful music, worship settings, and worshipful everything are all signs of our disgusting self-centeredness.

It's disgusting because I see it in myself, and do not like it.

No one enjoys a great choir more than I. I love to hear a soloist transport us all into the Throneroom by his/her vocal offering in the service. A great testimony of God's grace and power thrills me. And of course, being a preacher, I delight in hearing a sermon that you feel is direct from the heart of God.

But if I require any one or all of those before I can worship, something is vastly wrong with me.

My friends, something is vastly wrong with us today.

Dr. Joe McKeever is a Preacher, Cartoonist, and the Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Visit him at joemckeever.com/mt. Used with permission.

Publication date: May 24, 2011

Ouch.  I don't know about you, but it seems that I certainly have some things to consider and pray about with regards to my worship and perhaps about my service to my fellow man.  "Laying down one's life" doesn't always mean dying for your cause.  It could mean the sacrifice of time and treasure for the benefit of another.  This is difficult for those of us who are born with a self absorbed nature...virtually everyone in the world.  But it can be accomplished through the strength of the One who has the power to overcome even our self centeredness.

"Compassion Hymn" by Keth and Kristen Getty from the 2009 album Awaken The Dawn

 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy