Good Tuesday to ya friend! Welcome to the place where you know you always can find good music and occasionally thought provoking commentary. Let's face it, we're not hard hitting news. If you want that...well does that even exist anymore...sorry I digress. Welcome to the place where melodious themes and Messianic thought collide. Even if they're not supposed to. Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! We're glad you're here! Now lets put on our sweaters and sneakers and journey to a land that is one of our favorite neighborhoods that's really closer than you may think...the 80's! Let's Go!!!
In 1984, Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States for a second term. George Orwell's book did not seem quite as prophetic as it did when originally published in 1949. Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Lochte, and LeBron James were brought into this world. William Powell, Meredith Wilson (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"), Marvin Gaye, Ethel Merman, and Count Basie all left this world. Ghostbusters (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Ghostbusters") is released at the theater and Born In The U.S.A. is released by Bruce Springsteen. Also, the highest charting single from the band, The Cars (1976-1988, 2010-present) debuts from the album Heartbeat City.
Peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 is a single that is not stylistically one that would be associated with the normal Rock for which the Cars had garnered their success. "Drive" would lean heavily on the synth pop sound that was popular among New Wave, experiential bands of the 80's. Bassist Benjamin Orr, who would die of pancreatic cancer in 2000, took the lead on this song as he had done with the Cars signature hits, "Just What I Needed" and "Let's Go". The slower pace and beautiful melodies were quite the departure from the raucous sounds that the Cars had exhibited on previous singles.
With a video directed by actor Timothy Hutton (TNT's Leverage, TAPS, The Falcon and the Snowman), "Drive" quickly found its way into heavy rotation at MTV. Lead guitarist/singer Rick Ocasek and his future wife actress/model Paulina Porizkova (Her Alibi) were featured in the video as a couple on the verge of a breakup seemingly because she was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Drive" is a song literally filled with questions. It asks so many questions that it almost becomes an interrogation. Written by Ocasek, the song makes the supposition that the singer is the answer to all of those questions and the solution for the sadness through which the listener is going. It makes a statement throughout the song by proclaiming, "You can't go on thinking, nothing's wrong" begging the listener to own up to the situation they find themselves.
Often times we find ourselves in situations that are "interesting" if not seemingly hopeless. Who drives you home at those times? Your answer really does depend on one of two scenarios.
As we travel through our lives, our decisions, our goals, our dreams are all shaped by our world view. The Notes has covered the diametrically opposed world view positions in which you can choose on several occasions (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Reach Out (I'll Be There), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "All I Wanna Do", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Winter Wonderland"). We have challenged you to make a choice on what foundation you choose to base your life. But one thing doesn't seem clear in previous notes. Today's song, challenges the listener to identify what the truth in her life is. Have we determined that in our own lives?
In the days of the internet, it is growing increasing difficult to determine what sources we should use when we wish to know truthful information. Much is being said in our current climate about "fake"news. How can we determine what is really the truth as we navigate the nuances of our daily lives. Is truth a relative thing or is it static. Is truth something that is wishy washy or is it something we can depend on when the chips are down. We must find the answer to the age old question "What is truth?"
In recent years especially, we have attempted to bend over backwards to make sure we are not offensive. "Indians" are now "Native Americans". Black folks are now "African Americans". (Honestly, most of my black friends have NEVER traced their lineage back to Africa, they just want to be Americans) "Short" people are height challenged. Does this seem as ridiculous to you as it does to me? In the words of the great McCartney..."Let It Be". We have allowed ourselves to be desensitized against calling things what they are, or have always been called. This smacks of a moral relativism that is pervasive in our culture. But not just in our culture, it exists in the modern day church as well.
If you were to poll regular church goers under the age of 30 on topics such as abortion, gay marriage, drug and alcohol usage and other "hot button" political as well as moral issues, I think you would get a wide array of responses that would average closer to the "its okay with me" and "I don't see what's wrong with it" type of answer. In fact, the responses would trend towards what many "olders" would consider a very morally relativistic world view. How has this happened? Who's gonna pick you up when you break?
Most of these same folks would agree with the statement that the Bible is true, however, they have never really "rightly divided the Word of truth" on their own to determine what it says about above said topics. This situation is compounded by the fact that for a decade or more, some churches avoided teaching the great stories of the Bible and how they apply to our lives. "Who's gonna tell you when its too late"
For those with a world view that is Biblically based, faith is the main component. Faith dictates that what the Bible says about itself being true, is true. For example, Psalm 119:160 NKJV/CEV says that God's Word, the Bible is truth. As does, John 17:17 NKJV/CEV, and James:1:17 NKJV/CEV Jesus affirms truth when He makes this statement about Himself: John 14:6 NKJV/CEV
For those who hold a world view not based in the Bible, faith is also the main influencer. Whether they realize it or not, the "world" world view holder must have enough faith to believe the Bible is NOT the source for truth. This allows for truth to be whatever it wants in an individuals life. Truth becomes relative, as do convictions regarding some of the aforementioned "hot button" topics so easily debated on social media.
What does all this mean? It means that if you proclaim the name of Jesus as the Savior of your life, the Bible should be the ONLY truth that you believe. It is not relative or fluid when it comes to topics of the day. It takes a solid stand on those issues which wind up being not very popular, perhaps even to the point of being offensive. For example, The Bible says in regard to abortion: Exodus 20:13 NKJV/CEV, Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV/CEV, in regard to recreational drug/alcohol use: Ephesians 5:18-20 NKJV/CEV, Galatians 5 NKJV/CEV, Proverbs 25:28 NKJV/CEV, 1 Peter 1:13 NKJV/CEV and in regard to sexual sin (including homosexuality, pre marital sex, extramarital sex) I Corinthians 5 NKJV/CEV, 1 Corinthians 6 NKJV/CEV, Ephesians 5:3-4 The Message/ESV parallel
Find a topic that is viral on social media and the Bible has a statement of truth regarding it. I challenge you today friend to search for yourself. You may not like what the truth says about your specific sin. It does not make it true just because you don't like it. You may very well be offended. GOOD, that means you have not hardened your heart to the sin that Holy Spirit is pointing out to you. There is something you can do about it. Repent, Believe, Receive.
Repent. Turn away from what the Bible has revealed to you as sin in your life. Repentance is an act that should happen DAILY for believers. Believe that Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and The life and everything else He said He was. Then receive Him into your heart as the Lord of your life. Make Jesus the BOSS of your life as a pastor friend of mine was very fond of saying.
Friend, you can't go on with a world view that says "nothing's wrong". That is a lie from the pit of Hell (a topic of truth for another time). Who's gonna come around when you break? So who's gonna drive you home?
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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