Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Pink Houses" (John Mellencamp)

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Good Tuesday to you ladies and gentlemen!!!  You have now encountered the blog you have so desperately been seeking!  You have entered the flying space of those seeking the most out of their internet experience while maintaining truth, justice, and the American way!  All of it wrapped up in a neat bundle for your reading enjoyment every week on the best day of the week!  Welcome!  Welcome!!  Welcome!!! 

As Americans, we will soon celebrate 240 years of Independence.  If you look across history, this is a great achievement in the annals of world governments.  It is a rare occasion where the geopolitical state of an area remains the same for this many years.  (List of countries by date of transition to republican system of government- wikipedia.org)  Our 4th of July celebrations, which commemorates the day the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founding fathers, bring many family and friends together in ways unheard of in other countries.  It is a time of honoring the unique republic in which we live.  It is generally observed with barbecues, bands, and the bangs of fireworks.  


This year as we once again proclaim liberty to the world, we anticipate the conventions of our two dominate political parties and we wait to hear exactly what each candidate's plan for our country over the next 4 years will be.  Despite the angst felt by many Americans regarding both candidates, we will in a few short months name one of them as President.  Tuesday's Musical Notes encourages readers to be a part of the best political process in the world and cast your vote.  We highly recommend that you get as much information as possible regarding each candidate and determine which most closely represents your value system...and then VOTE!  


So happy 4th of July, Independence Day, 2016 from Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  We hope you celebrate in ways that are as original and unique as the country we adore.  We hope you gather around with neighbors and coworkers and commemorate our freedoms.  Most of all, we ask that you take a moment during the holiday and remember those who continue to sacrifice for our freedom.  Those who stand watch over and protect the liberty we so closely hold to our chests.  Thank you for your service.  Now let's party...'cause ain't that America?
 
He has been known as a "hero of the heartland".  As one of the founders of "Farm Aid", John Mellencamp has raised over $50 million in support of the family farm in America.  He was part of the 2008 class inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame and holds the record for the most tracks to hit #1 (7 times) on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.  His common sense, straight forward lyric style and use of traditional instrumentation, catapulted him into superstardom in the 1980's. 
 

Today's feature song went as high as #8 on the Hot 100 in early 1984.  Rolling Stone Magazine places it at #439 on it list of 500 Greatest Hits Of All Time - Rolling Stone Magazine via wikipedia.org.  While being a tutorial on the haves vs. the have nots, it takes strides to refer to all kinds of American life, including the fact that even in America there are no guarantees...noting that there are "winners and there's losers".  Each man is literally in control of his own destiny, regardless of what environment or background they may have.

The Bible is filled with wisdom regarding man choosing his destiny by the benefits of working hard.  From enabling food to be put on the table, (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 The Message Paraphrase of the Bible/New International Version of the Bible parallel, Proverbs 12:11 The Message/NIV parallel), to work being beneficial to one's testimony of Jesus (1 Timothy 5:3-8 The Message/NIV parallel, The Gospel of Matthew 5:14-16 The Message/NIV parallel)  For many Americans, this IS the way they live their life.  For others...not so much.  

We live in a nation where the only limitations a person has are the ones that are placed on himself.  As followers of Jesus, we are instructed to do good work (do EVERYTHING as if we were doing it for God, Colossians 3:22-25 The Message/NIV parallel.  I suspect that means even blogging...)  The above passages of HOLY SCRIPTURE, infer that believers should be the hardest working, most productive, and have the highest integrity of anyone employed, regardless of their station in society or how much the position may pay per hour.  They should be the best bosses, and best workers and they should do it because they are doing EVERYTHING as if they were doing it for God the Creator. 

This responsibility can only be fulfilled as Christians allow Jesus, through Holy Spirit,  to renew our minds and transform us more into His likeness today than we were yesterday.  This makes believers, of all people, have the highest status of liberty and freedom.  That is something that our forefathers attempted to pass on to us and is now our  obligation to pass on to the next generations of New Americans.  Let freedom of all kinds ring!!!
 
'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Summer Breeze" (Seals and Crofts)

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Are you ready for the summer?  Well, it is here!!!  Quite honestly...I'm done with it!  I hereby pledge my loyalty to the seasons of spring and fall...But it is Tuesday, so it is the best day of all regardless of the season.  And you just happen to be at the best blog to read regardless of how hot and humid (yuck!!!) it may be.  Welcome to Tuesday, it's time for The Notes!  

There is a nostalgia that is attached to summertime.  Some of my fondest memories were made during the season of the sun.  Well, fondest may be a bit of a stretch.  Some of my strongest memories were made during the season of the sun.  Living in a rural area gave us the opportunity to work the gardens, pick strawberries and cucumbers for money, have a vegetable stand (if the garden was really good) and generally play outdoors.  Perhaps your memories of summer include relatives that assisted in shelling peas or shucking corn.  Those were good times.  Sure, we worked hard, but there was a sense of accomplishment and belonging that you couldn't get from being in the a/c watching whatever "movie of the weekend" might happen to be playing on one of the 3 channels that you got.  We bonded with the generation ahead of us and received incredible insight into life.  We at least learned that smaller cucumbers were worth more money...Summer was a time with limited distractions, because you had things to do.  But when the day was done, you still took the opportunity to remain outside and enjoy a glass of sweet tea or lemonade, watch the sun go down in a beautiful display of color, and enjoy what we all knew as the summer breeze...and it DID make you feel fine...what does jasmine in my mind flow like?

They only had 3 top ten hits, but the band Seals and Crofts made an imprint on 70's popular music with those 3 hits that can only be defined by gold records and a generation's adoration. "Summer Breeze", "Diamond Girl" and "Get Closer" were all title cuts from their albums and all hit #6 in the charts in 1972, 1973, and 1976 respectively.  This cemented Seals And Crofts as one of the most popular mid70s pop groups.  Their music still maintains rotation at "classic" radio and causes many flower child to remember back to a "simpler" time.

"Summer Breeze" is a song about the simple things in life, like coming home to a neighborhood where you have a relationship with the family next door and aren't surprised to hear music coming from their house.  It is a song about how good it feels to come home at the end of a well worked day to a home cooked meal and ones who love you.  It's haunting melody is replaced only by the reminiscence of that time when even during turmoil, we had a calm assurance that things would eventually be ok.

A hard days work and a home cooked meal seem like a dream to some households today.  We live at a time where the "family" is under attack not only by the ultimate enemy, but from forces we least expect, our society and government.  Now please don't think this is a rant against the United States.  As we approach the celebration of our 240th celebration of the unique experiment that is our republic, we must realize that as a nation, we have become our own worst enemy.  Decisions are being made that are contrary to public desire and are not held up to public scrutiny.  I am not supporting the idea that some evil conspiracy is afoot in the halls of Washington D.C.. However, I do contend that as citizens we have done little to stem the tide of immorality and wastefulness that has been our government for the last 100 years.  We literally have failed to hold those who representatives accountable to represent.  Please note that this is a criticism of government REGARDLESS of the political party that may be in power. 
 

The Bible has plenty to say about how a nations actions will determine its outcomes:

by contrast

Psalm 33:11-13 NASB/The Message parallel
or consider this:

Proverbs 14:33-35 NASB/The Message parallel


These passages are common sense to those whose Lord is God.  They serve as answers to those who have queries of an eternal nature.  They shine light on a darkness that cannot be permeated by the summer sun.  They are used by God in the form of Holy Spirit to draw individuals as well as nations back to righteousness (right ways).  

As we look around the landscape of our nation, it is easy to see that changes certainly need to be made.  Those changes will not occur nationally until they occur individually.  They can only occur through what we used to call a "Holy Ghost" revival.  This only occurs as Christian folks beg God to make them more like Jesus every day and go about telling His story, The Gospel.  Our nation so desperately needs this kind of change as we seemingly approach the end of time. 


The Notes has made the point in the past about the United States not appearing in end times literature, while some nations are easily identifiable.   As we gear up to hear much political rhetoric wafting on the summer breezes,
we must wonder if the time may be drawing nigh...here is an interesting article with some insight that you may find handy as the jasmine flows through your mind:  Where is America in end times prophecy? - by Greg Laurie, September 5, 2014 posted at WND.com
 
'Til Tuesday,


Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Get Together" (The Youngbloods)

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Welcome to Tuesday children!  Today we go back to the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the time where flower powers was a rallying cry, and Jesus people were being baptized in whatever body of water they could find.  It's the 70's baby and it's time for a far out edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Can you dig it? So pull up close to your Kum Ba Yah campfire and get ready to dive into the hippest blog on the net.  We have the most "right on" platters on the planet and we are ready lay it down to the brothers and the sisters all around the world.  So c'mon people now, smile on your brother as The Youngbloods teach us how to try to love one another right now...
 

 

In most folks' mind, the song "Get Together" is emblematic of the protest songs of the late '60s and early '70s when the Viet Nam war was at its peak and the new and ever growing media of television was fanning the flames of protest by funneling video from the front lines.  Upon its reissue it peaked at #5 after it was used in a radio public service announcement for the National Conference of Christians and Jews.  


It was a time of incredible stress as the United States was experiencing growing pains from the civil rights movement, the women's liberation movement and the aforementioned very unpopular, Viet Nam war.  The Viet Nam war was such an ever present issue that it was a constant theme that it permeated every moment in our lives, including our church lives.  I fondly remember in churches around the nation, prayer was continually being lifted up to "bring our boys home".  

While "Get Together" is included in the annals of the protest songs that sprang from these growing pains, it is also a song of great hope as its lyric takes on Biblical nuances of a Solomonic nature... 

Some may come and some may go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now



These themes are as poignant for us today as they were in 1967.  We must constantly be aware that every moment that we have on earth is precious and we will be held accountable for how those moments are spent.  Trying to love one another is the hardest thing we will do with our lives.  Reality dictates and the Bible declares that we will be hated if we embrace the precepts of God, the strongest one of these precepts is love.  The Gospel of Matthew 10:22-23 King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase parallel  The Gospel of John 15:17-19 KJV/The Message parallel  Notice that our role in these verses is to love and persevere even though we are hated.  


Unfortunately, we live in a very cynical world.  That cynicism has marched its way into many churches as they have grown critical of anyone who attempts to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a different way than they do or even worse, condemn the sinner rather than condemning the sin.  We have allowed denominational differences to dictate our conversations into criticism and guide our discipleship into dividing lines.  We even on occasion have allowed our passions to over run our mouths (or fingers if we text, use twitter, or other forms of social media) to condemn the very ones Jesus commanded us to love. (Matthew 5:43-48 New International Version of the Bible/The Message parallel)  Jesus commanded us to "go and tell" (The Gospel of Mark 16:15-16 KJV/The Message parallel), but for many in the facebook world it would seem that Jesus' command to Christians was to "scream and yell".  This ought not be.  


Perhaps the difficulty comes from a misinterpretation of the "go and tell" command.  Jesus didn't command us to build large and beautiful buildings and "pack 'em in". He didn't command us to hold conferences on how to be great husbands and wives.  He didn't command us to fill gigantic arenas and hold a worship concert.  These things are great tools, but the modern church has allowed them to take the place of our primary directive. These distractions border on idolatry as they take us away from what Jesus said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.Notice that Jesus doesn't say, "go and save the world."  He says "go and tell them about me, THE Good News". 



I fear that far too many times, followers of Jesus do not tell the world about The Good News because we place the responsibility of salvation on ourselves.  This too smacks of idolatry.  When we come to the point that we realize salvation is a work of Holy Spirit, not any work we may do, we are released from an action that is not ours in the first place. It is then that we can experience the freedom that comes in simply TELLING the old, old, story.  That is all we are commanded to do.  And by so doing, we show love to everyone as we share the Good News that Jesus came to be the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin.  He died for us. He was buried and then came back to life 3 days later. He is at this very moment preparing a place for those who believe.  He will return to restore the broken relationship between believers and God and take us to be with Him forever.  That place is called heaven and it is only for those who believe and receive Jesus.  The alternative is a place called hell.  It is for those who refuse to receive and believe Jesus and is a place of eternal separation from Him.


There is such a hopelessness and despair that comes when you have no knowledge of what your eternity future will entail.  But for those that follow Jesus, those that "die daily" to themselves and serve Him as they serve others, there is a hope that surpasses anything we can understand as we know that our eternity future is one that is found in a restored relationship with God through Jesus.  This hope becomes our motivation... to smile on your brother and try to love one another...right now.


"Jesus Commands Us To Go", title track from the 1984 album by Keith Green compiled posthumously by Melody Green



'Til Tuesday,


Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" (Chicago)

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Welcome to the first Tuesday of June 2016!!!  3 months until school starts again, 4 months until Razorback Football begins, 6 months until the presidential election, 7 months until Christmas, and 8 months until the year 2017 begins!  But there is absolutely no sense in rushing towards the future...na, na, na, na, na, na live for today...right?  Anyway, welcome to the best day of the week!  Since it is the first Tuesday of the month, we get the opportunity to play the flashback music and que up an email Note from the earliest days of Tuesday's Musical Notes.  Today's ponderings on the positives comes from August 2, 2011 and in the form of the world's greatest band...EVER.  Que the fog machine and harps...

Memories can be some of the most treasured and powerful things we have in our lives.  My earliest recollections come from the early 70's.  I just don't remember much from before my school age time.  Mom has pictures  that reinforce  some of the stories that she has told me about the time before 1st grade.  Her memories invigorate mine.  Perhaps you have a similar story.  Consistent memories don't really kick in for me until early school age years. That is the time many begin to develop relationships and start coming into their own so to speak.  In retrospect,  those memories strengthen a theme and begin the voyage that is the search for the  meaning of life.

Most of my life, I've been searchin'... perhaps you have as well, here's Chicago with their ideas about searching for life's meaning...

"(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" from the 1974 double album Chicago VII

     In 2002, my all time favorite band, Chicago, released "The Very Best Of Chicago - Only The Beginning".  The album debuted in the top 50 on the charts.  That's astounding!!!  They are one of just a few bands ever to have albums chart in 5 decades!  You read that right 5 DECADES! That is an amazing statistic and one that I think very few in the current music industry will ever be able to achieve again. 
Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this past year and continues to tour each year with sell out crowds.  It just goes to show you that good music is appreciated generation after generation.
As rare as having records chart in 5 decades, it is equally rare the way Chicago built their musical iconic status.  It was difficult for new musical acts in the 60s to have enough material or the money to support the studio recording time to put together a single album of good tunes.  Enter Chicago, who, as a band, released their first 3 albums as 2 disc sets and released their 4th was a whopping 4 disc boxed set from their concert at Carnegie Hall.  After single disc releases Chicago V and VI, Chicago returned to the double album release format with Chicago VII.  It went straight to the top of the Billboard Pop chart and had 3 singles break the top 20. 


     
I actually got to see Chicago with a few friends at Barnhill Arena at the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas (Woo Pig) in 1982.  It was the very first time I had gone to a rock-n-roll concert.  What an incredible show!  They had 3 encore's one of which was The Beatles "Got To Get You Into My Life!!  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Got To Get You Into My Life")  Chicago owned the song that night and made it sound like one of their original compositions.  I suspect McCartney and friends still got paid royalties, but I digress.  One of my friends actually stalked the band back to their hotel and got to meet some of them.  That was a time when stalking meant a whole different thing than it does now.  She didn't tell us the story until much later and we jokingly question many of the details still to this day.
 Earlier in today's Notes  we mentioned a part of life that everyone experiences.  The search for meaning.  Seeking a good education, searching for the right girl to date, searching for the right clothes to stay in fashion, searching for true friendship......I think you understand and perhaps have had similar explorations in your life.  Hopefully your search has included some instances such as these:

Deuteronomy 4:27-31 The Message paraphrase of the Bible/New American Standard Bible parallel

1 Chronicles 28:9 The Message/NASB parallel

2 Chronicles 15:1-4 The Message/NASB

Proverbs 11:27 The Message/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Proverbs 28:5 The Message/KJV parallel

Isaiah 55:6-7 The Message/KJV parallel

Amos 5:6 The Message

Amos 5:14 The Message/Holman Christian Standard Bible parallel

Zephaniah 2:3 The Message/KJV parallel

The Gospel of Matthew 6:33 KJV/The Message parallel

The Gospel of Luke 11:9 The Message/KJV parallel

What we see throughout Biblical history is the instruction to seek God.  He is the Creator of our lives.  He is also the one who loves you since you were created in the womb.  Your search for the meaning in life should include responding to the drawing of Holy Spirit into a reestablished relationship with God.  We all respond to this drawing.  Some deny it even exists, others embrace it wholeheartedly.  There is coming a time very soon, when this distinction will be very important.  In fact, it will determine where your eternal being will exist.  The truth of the matter is that we will live a lot longer somewhere other than the 70 or so years we may have on earth.  I can't imagine what a separated relationship with the One who created me would be like, nor do I want to.  I also want to encourage you to investigate further the seemingly unexplainable gnawing that continues to draw you towards a decision.  Sex, drugs, Rock-N-Roll, money, power, and fame are all second level substitutes for the completion that you desire.  You are not complete, nor will you ever be without restoring your personal relationship with God, by following the drawing of Holy Spirit, accepting that Jesus died as a substitution for you and that He was physically risen from death, that He sits in heaven awaiting God's instruction to return and bring those who believe to heaven, and embracing the restored relationship with God.  At this point, the searchin' will have it's answer.



One passionate search early in my life, led me to an altar at New Bethel General Baptist church just north of Bald Knob, Arkansas.  I found a friend unlike any other that I had ever met.  A friend who had a gift for me.  All I had to do was accept it and believe what He told me He had done for me and what He would be doing for me if I surrendered to Him daily.  
I was 10.  
I continue to search for many things in my life, but since that time,  I have no desire to search for something to fill the most intrinsic need of my life.  I found the Savior!!!  His promises are true every day.  The things I search for now are founded in the relationship I have with Jesus.  Ways to make His message known.  Ways to make my character more like His character.  Ways to encourage and edify those who have also found His love.  My search is not over.  I really think, to borrow from another Chicago song.....it's "Only The Beginning".......

"Lead Me To The Cross" - from the 2007 album All Of The Above by Hillsong United
'Til Tuesday


Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy