Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Things Can Only Get Better" (Howard Jones)

 

Welcome to Tuesday, the best day of the week!!!  You have clicked on the blog for the insight you seek!!!  With tunes from all times and truth from The Word, you're sure to go away with your feelings all stirred.  So read on, dive in, sing along now and don't linger.  There's ideas that will cause you to scratch your head with your finger.  Thoughts nostalgic and grand all gathered on line.  Lean back, settle in, you'll really be fine.  I hope that you find this welcome to Tuesday, is engaging and fun, a reason to stay.  So let's get started, we hope you will find, things can only get better with this song in mind.

"Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones from the 1985 album Dream Into Action

 

It is very difficult to find a Pop music personality like Howard Jones.  He turned 61 this year and continues to tour around the world on the popularity of his hits from the 80's.  He has been married to his wife Jan since the late 70's.  While he only had 1 top ten album in the United States, his music continues to be played at "Greatest Hits of the 80's" radio and satellite music stations.  He also has been the focus of 2 previous Tuesday's Musical Notes (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Life In One Day" and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No One Is To Blame").  From 1983 to 1992, Jones placed 9 singles in the top 40 and saw 3 of his albums achieve either Gold or multiplatinum sales status.  AND he did it all with some of the best hair in popular music...

"Things Can Only Get Better" is one of Jones most popular songs.  It was the first single from 1985's Dream Into Action album, which peaked on the domestic album charts at #10.  The single went to #5 on the Billboard's Hot 100 and even reached #54 on Billboard's R&B charts.  Buoyed by backup singers Afrodiziak, being on the R&B chart was astonishing as it was unheard of for a white artist in the 80's. 

"Things Can Only Get Better" is a song with an incredibly positive outlook.  Something that we needed in the 80's and could certainly use a dose of today..."and do you feel scared, I do, but I won't stop and falter"...It seems that every day we wake up to some new negative event.  Terrorism on the rise, Cultural unrest, and economic uncertainty seem to rule the headlines as we open our favorite news webpages.  Added to theses stresses there is the 2016 election for President of the United States.  Remember...we won't stop and falter.  Seems like the rest of that lyric is even more plausible...but if we throw it all away, things can only get better. 

Gone are the days of statesmen politicians who wish to serve their country and then retire to their "regular" job.  In the United States, we have developed a career class that was never intended by the founders or our constitution, the career politician.  Need proof:

Members Of The United States Congress By Longevity

This only accounts for Senators and Representatives.  If you were to look at the inner workings around Washington D.C., you would see a vast consortium of "career" folks whose role it is to support those who have been elected, or to lobby those who have been elected for the company/interest group they have been employed.  Unfortunately, this mentality of a career in politics, rather than serving our country, permeates all the way to the highest office in the land.

Never in modern history has an election for President ever been so..."interesting".  Our choice for the highest office in the land has been relegated to a businessman turned celebrity icon and a former first lady, turned career politician.    While on the face of it, these two choices have some redeeming aspects, however, given the two personalities filling these descriptions, it is incumbent upon EVERY American to do their homework as we prepare for what is undoubtedly a media circus over the next 84 days.  It is a time for each of us individually to decide the values and principles on which we are unwilling to compromise.  It is a time for us to evaluate ALL candidates, from President to dog catcher, on those values and principles.  It is a time for us to listen intensely to what is said, how it is said, and the actions that back up the comments that are said.  It is a time for us to dig into the incredible tool of the internet and decipher a candidates life philosophies.  Never before has it been SO important for Americans to know everything they can about the people running for office.  And never before has it been SO important for Americans to consider the wisdom found in the Bible regarding leaders and kings.

 

 

Proverbs 1:5 (New International Version of the Bible)- "...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance..."

Proverbs 3:35 (NIV) - "The wise inherit honor, but fools get only 

shame."

Proverbs 9:12 (NIV) - "If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

Proverbs 16:12 (NIV) - "Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness."

 

Proverbs 28:2 (NIV)- "When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order."

Proverbs 28:16 (The Message Paraphrase) - "Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright."

 

The above passages of Scripture remind us of the wisdom and righteousness that benefits us.  Both wisdom and righteousness tend to go against our sinful nature and the natures of those we elect. Please understand that Tuesday's Musical Notes does not endorse ANY candidate.  We suggest you do your own research, then vote.  But whatever you do, do not vote blindly.  

Finally, advice for where we are as a country.  The setting is Israel during King Solomon's time.  Solomon was the wisest man to ever live.  In 2 Chronicles we see the story of the completion of the temple.  Solomon's father, King David, made sure that Solomon had all that he needed to build the temple.  Upon completion of the temple, God shows up in a mighty way.  Ultimately, He has a conversation with Solomon about what His actions will be if Israel continues to worship Him, the One True God, as well as the consequences for not being obedient.  Please read this passage:  2 Chronicles 7:11-22 NIV/The Message parallel

Embedded in this passage is an all too familiar piece of Scripture that many folks quote:  "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  This passage in its context details what can happen when a NATION turns from its wicked ways.  This can only happen when INDIVIDUALS turn from their wicked ways.  In other words, things can only get better if individually we REPENT.  Repent is a Biblical phrase that means to turn.  In this case it means to turn from sin, another Biblical turn that means "fall short", and turn to the righteous life that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus, the Son of God.  Things can only get better as we grow to maturity in Jesus.  This is a process that must occur daily.  But it is the only hope we have individually and collectively in the times in which we live.  "Do you feel scared, I do, but we won't stop and falter..."

As for politics..."if we throw it all away..."

"Extreme Days" from the 2008 album Alive And Transported by Toby Mac

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy