Tuesday's Musical Notes
Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes! Thanks for stopping by as we venture down the highways and byways of popular musical history and see how those thoroughfares intersect with the heavenly highway...no I'm not talking about the hymn books...metaphor, please get the metaphor. Regardless of the road you may be on, it is certain that some of the songs featured at The Notes have been a part of that particular road trip. Check out the archives to see if one of your freeway mixtape tracks happens to have received the Musical Notes Treatment.
Welcome to today! Make the most of it! You're off to a good start by reading Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! Thanks again for including Tuesday's Musical Notes as a part of your weekly travel plans. Now, we've not a minute to waste...
Today's Notes is a reprint from the first year of emails that I sent to friends. Their encouragement soon led to the blog that you see today. As such, today's Musical Notes is a little bit dated. We've come a very long way down some of these entertainment roads...enjoy.
Our family loves a good story. In any media the story can be presented. As far as books are concerned, I would imagine our family is similar to yours in that each person has a favorite author, style, or genre they prefer. Most of the time, however, we usually agree about movies. In fact, we all agree that the 2011 movie Courageous is a must see for everyone (Tuesday's Musical Notes began that same year). It is one of 4 films produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia (Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel). If you haven't seen it, the Notes highly recommends it or any of the Sherwood films as a great Father's Day gift or rental. Courageous is a longer movie so make sure you get a Wal Mart run in for snacks and a maybe even a box of kleenex. Conceivably, you could even use the movie as an outreach tool to that pre-Christian person which you have been speaking to about the Lord. We have a huge opportunity to change our culture when we support movies like this.
About the same time, another film that was getting increasing press among Christian reviewers, "The Mighty Macs". It is based on the true story of a women's collegiate basketball team. While it is not overtly "evangelistic" like all of the Sherwood movies, it is one that seems to have a very inspirational story. Perhaps the best way to describe it is Glory Road meets Sister Act.
See the trailer here and decide for yourself: The Mighty Macs - starring Carla Gugino - 2009
The reason I bring up motion pictures is I remember a time when I received a text from my youngest daughter in the spring of 2011. It read "Go to IMDB now". The immediacy of such a text piqued my curiosity though I suspected what the text was regarding. IMDB stands for internet movie data base. It is the place to see trailers of coming soon movies as well find information regarding actors. If you love movies and the entertainment industry in general, check it out at imdb.com.
When I did go to the site, I saw what had her so excited. The trailer for "The Avengers" movie was available and she had seen it. In the event you aren't a fan of comic book movies, The Avengers is the Comic Book series that combines many heroes from the Marvel Comic Book Universe into one cohesive group and they essentially save earth as we know it. She then made the statement that "The month of May can not get here soon enough!" I was struck by that comment. The whole "don't wish your life away" cliche came to my mind. I resisted the temptation to text her that very phrase as I realized that it never really did me any good to hear such things when I was her age.
Our desire to see time go by so we can get to special events is indicative of the culture in which we live. We truly live in a soundbite society. And if you were to ask most folks, I suspect they would agree that we live in a time deprived age. It seems that there is never enough time to get things done that we want to do. Maybe the band Alambama had a point. ("I'm in a Hurry" by Alabama from the 1992 album American Pride) We multitask better than any generation that preceded us, yet it seems we are always in a rush to get to the next thing.
I confess to you that there have been and continue to be times where I allow schedules and time to be an idol in my life. In response to this time priority crisis and idolatry, I have tried to change my language to reflect an attitude of gratefulness for the things in which I am allowed by God to participate. Instead of having things to do and doing them quickly ( I have to get to work, I have to feed the dog, I have to pay the bills, etc) ......I get to do things and savor the opportunity to serve ( I get to go to work, I get to feed the dog, I get to pay the bills, etc.). Which of these brings more glory to God?
I guess you could say that I have gained a greater appreciation for living "Minute By Minute".
You may or may not know the name Michael McDonald. I suspect that you do however, know this prolific songwriter's music and bands in which he has an association. He appeared as keyboardist and vocalist on 4 albums for Steely Dan from 1975-1980. He even cowrote "I'll Wait", with Van Halen, for their 1984 album. But his biggest hits came with a band by the name of...."The Doobie Brothers".
McDonald was the substitute for an ill band member while the Doobies were on tour and was given a permanent gig with the band shortly thereafter. His bluesy voice soon became the trademark in the mid to late 70's for the Doobie Brothers as they hit with 1976's "Takin' It To The Streets". Some have suggested that McDonald's religious beliefs, he professes Christianity, influenced the entire album and that "Takin' It To The Streets" is a discreet reference to evangelism.
The Doobie Brother's next release was the 1977 #10 album, Livin' on a Fault Line. It would be the set up for 1979's Minute by Minute which went all the way to #1 on Billboard's Album Chart based on the strength of its 3 Billboard Hot 100 singles ("Dependin' on You" (#25), "Minute by Minute"(#14), and "What a Fool Believes'" (#1)).
"Minute By Minute" details a man's patience as he waits for the love of his life to determine what the status of their relationship might be and the conflicting emotions that he is feeling. Check out this performance with Michael McDonald singing the lead and some classic Doobie Brothers' harmony:
"Minute by Minute" - title track from the 1978 album by The Doobie Brothers
The Bible has many things to say about how we spend our time. How we let each minute by minute go by is a testimony of who we are. God is concerned about the details of our lives. In The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew 10:26-31 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible parallel we hear the Lord reassuring the disciples to have courage because God was with them. He loves them enough to know the very number of the hairs on their head. That promise hasn't changed. Be assured that if you are His, the Lord is with you minute by minute of every day.
The Bible speaks to us about the longevity of life in the Psalms. Read Psalm 90 NKJV/The Message to gain perspective about who we are in relation to who God is. In Psalms 90:12 the Bible says: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." This passage speaks to the priority of our limited time on earth and doing everything we can to gain wisdom while we are here." I suppose that the question could be raised, "What is true wisdom?". I think wisdom are those things we learn that enable us to make decisions in alignment with God. The decisions that are made outside of that alignment usually don't work out so well for me, how about you? As I read the Bible, God reveals something new to me in passages that I have read many times before. Wisdom is increased. With each passing day, I see and hear things that increase my perspective and sometimes alter my viewpoints. Wisdom is enhanced. One of Tuesday's Musical Notes' goal is to be something that increases and enhances your wisdom while encouraging your heart. We hope we succeed each week in causing you to ponder anew these thoughts as your day goes along...minute by minute.
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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