Welcome to Tuesday!!! It's the last Tuesday of May and with it comes our final entry in the Billy Joel blogs. Sigh... Billy Joel has been a part of the popular music scene since the late 60's and continues to be a musical force. He has seemingly retired from recording popular music but continues to tour and support his multi platinum catalogue of albums. Here with his salute to everything is Billy Joel:
"We Didn't Start The Fire" from the 1989 album Storm Front by Billy Joel
This is exactly what happens when you have too much time to reflect on your life. Billy Joel wrote the lyric to "We Didn't Start The Fire", from his album Storm Front, as a tribute to the cultural events that had happened in his life. He took the major events from his birth year until the year the song was released (1949-1989) and encapsulated it into a 4 minute song. It hit #1 on Billboard's hot 100 in December of 1989. For more on Billy Joel and his recording successes we graciously refer you to this month's collection of songs by the Innocent Man:
Tuesday's Musical Notes: "Just The Way You Are"
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "She's Got A Way"
Tuesday's Musical Notes: "You May Be Right"Tuesday's Musical Notes: "My Life"
As
"We Didn't Start The Fire" hit #1 in December of '89m Tammy and I were
having history occur in our lives as we were
just 3 months away from our first child, Katy, being born. That was 26 years ago. We
could certainly write a song about what has happened in our lives since
that time. "Katy's born, then we moved, back to Arkansas to
groove"....might even be how it starts...I fear it would take more than
4:49 to account for even a microcosm of the events in history since that time.
Have you ever been curious about the historical context of each
of the names and events mentioned in "We Didn't Start The Fire"?
Someone sent me this link. Take a moment and stroll down history. For
my generation, you'll probably remember many of the people and places
mentioned. For those of you who may be younger, welcome to history
class......
Ron Kurtus' School For Champions Blog - ""We Didn't Start the Fire" (Facts) History Summary from 1949-1989"
As "We Didn't Start The Fire" recants the history of 40 years you soon see that many things have changed. Geopolitics, music, Soda pop favorites, and especially the style of clothing folks wear have all succumbed to the destiny that is change.
If you look across the landscape of what people will wear today you are bound to see everything. Men wearing short sleeves, long sleeves, perhaps even a sweater or jacket. Women will be fashionably adorned in jeans and a sweater, maybe a jacket or for some even a coat. We wear a plethora of outfits and try to plan based on comfort, yet things change with the weather and we must adapt or be uncomfortable. I have decided that I will not give in to the stylistic nuances that attempt to dictate and will wear what I want based on the longest period of comfort. Tammy says that me deciding what I wear is always dangerous.....
I think the clothing choices we make as the seasons change is an apt metaphor for our lives. We act a certain way or have certain attitudes based on our environment to achieve the maximum comfort for ourselves. Please don't think this as a criticism. In reality, I think we must change to our situation if we are to achieve glory for God's Name, reverence for God's Word, and growth for God's Kingdom. This kind of change usually causes a modicum of discomfort, but results in growth of the individual doing the changing.
I think the apostle Paul put it best in his letter to the Corinthians as he describes how he adapts to his situations:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
King James Version (KJV)
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And
unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them
that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that
are under the law;
21To
them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to
God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are
without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you1 Corinthians 9:19-23 The Message Paraphrase of the Bible/New American Standard Bible parallel
History is replete with examples of how cultures changed. Some changed in the wrong direction and no longer exist. Others changed in a positive direction and flourished. I love history. There are so many things that we can learn from history to keep us going in a right direction. Edmund Burke, the Irish Statesman, said, "Those who don't know history, are destined to repeat it".
Reviewing this recent history reminds us that we should occasionally take some time for reflection regarding our own lives. In doing so, we should keep in mind that the Bible says that "There is none righteous" (Romans 3:10). What changes in our lives need to be made based on the knowledge of our history? The enemy will use such reflective times to tempt us to demean or criticize ourselves for the mistakes that we have made. In that time of temptation, remember that those mistakes have been there for you to learn something. The mistakes in our lives and how we react in those times shape our future decisions. We must also look at the good decisions that we have made. Then celebrate the accomplishments that God has achieved through you and the knowledge that you gain from the mistakes that you made. Be empowered by what you learn through this exercise and go become "all things to all people, so by all means you might save some".
"Even So, Come" title track from the 2015 Passion conference
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
