But seriously, if you are new to The Notes, check out the archive to the right of the screen listed by months. You can even use the handy, dandy search tool to see if your absolute fav of a song has been twisted by those who dwell in Tuesday's Musical Notes land. Even if you've read EVERY one of the musings on music and The Messiah, take a moment and reread your favorite. Every hit counts as we get closer to the end of the year and our annual countdown...here beneath the blue suburban skies...
Very few musical groups have had the impact on pop music, musical innovation, and culture like The Beatles. In fact, over the course of these last 5 years, Tuesday's Musical Notes has dedicated 7 weeks to the band from Liverpool. Click on the following link if you'd like to check out any or all The Notes imaginings of the stylings of the Fab Four: Tuesday's Musical Notes - The Beatles
Originally slated to be a part of the 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, "Penny Lane" would not be placed on a full length recording until The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, which was released later in the year. It was, however, released as a dual "A" side album with "Strawberry Fields Forever". While never making #1 in British charts, it would be the 13th time a recording by The Beatles would see the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It is also one of only 5 McCartney-Lennon Beatles songs not purchased by Michael Jackson in 1985.
Today's feature song would also be one of the first to feature a piccolo trumpet. This particular horn is pitched 1 octave higher than a normal trumpet and was played by David Mason. The trumpet used by Mason on "Penny Lane" was auctioned in 1987 by Sotheby's to the tune of $10,846.
"Penny Lane" is an actual place in Liverpool, that is well known for the bus routes that traverse it. There is a shelter and a roundabout, however, many of the other characters found in the song are quite fictional. It was obviously a place that made an impression on a young Paul McCartney, who shared songwriting credit on the song with John Lennon. Upon a second glance, the lyric itself bends toward the idiosyncratic. It seems that the skies are blue, but the fireman has rushed in from the pouring rain, very strange. Nonetheless, things seem idyllic for the residents as they exist in what is their idea of community.
As humans, we were created to be a part of a group of folks. We are engineered to need other people in our lives to provide accountability, mentoring, fellowship, and a overall sense of who we are. Communities in this sense, tend to be about the same size for everyone regardless of whether you live in a metropolis or a small town. They're the people that you meet when you're walkin' down the street, if I may borrow a colloquialism from Mr. Rodgers .
Communities can be as intimate or as informal as we define them. It all depends on the relationships that are built within the group. If ever there were a body of people who could set the standard for communities, it would be the followers of Jesus. In The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew 18:15-20 English Standard Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible/New King James Version of the Bible parallel, He defines the parameters for how His followers are to treat one another. The apostle Paul would expand on Jesus teachings by furthering the ideas for those who were a part of community and how they were to exist and thrive. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 ESV/The Message/NKJV , Romans 12:4-8 ESV/The Message/NKJV, Hebrews 10 ESV/The Message/NKJV, are all passages that speak to the duties and what should be the desires of believers to be in community. (our pastor just spoke on this one in a whale of a message. You can find it at Kingdom People, Kingdom Purpose - The Church week 2 - Pastor Tim Noel tbcsearcy.org) In short, we should love each other enough to want to get to know each other. This is next to impossible if we do not have time together.
We live in an era where we think we even have the power to make time. In our minds we perceive making time to do the things WE want to do. The downside of this selfishness is that while we are doing what WE want to do, we rob from the time that was possibly intended for us to do things for others. In reality, time is a precious commodity. We only have a certain number of breaths, a certain number of steps and a certain number of heartbeats. We can't increase any of these things. So, it is imperative that we ponder the usage of the number of our days. It is indispensable that we prioritize those things which benefit others above ourselves.
There is a chance you do not live in the town in which you were raised. Quite possibly, you are far from the community that provided your values, beliefs and goals. You may, in fact, be in a new place in your life. So what do you do to engage the community?
The Notes suggest finding a body of believers in a local church as a starting point. Not a believer? Not sure where to go? send me an email, I would be happy to suggest a group of folks you can at the very least check out. (rawacr@gmail.com). In the context of the local church you can be better equipped to do those "good works" that God has planned for you. Get involved inside and outside of you church.
I recently did something in my community for the first time . I've lived here for 24 years and I had never attended our local university's football games. My reasons were many, at the top of the list was that I wasn't an alum, so I had no allegiance to the school. After having attended last Saturday's game, I regret not having gone sooner. Not only was it a good game, even though our local team didn't win, I met a new friend who had driven all the way from St. Louis to be a part of what she felt like was her community. There really is nothing like the sense of belonging that an event like this can stir in your heart. I have absolutely nothing in common, with my new friend (different gender, different culture, different denominational backgrounds I suspect), other than we like college football and were at this local game. That is how easy community can begin. And I wonder just how many other new friends I have missed by not engaging in this part of what makes up the community in which I live.
As believers, Jesus has commanded us to go into our communities and preach the Gospel. Like a barber showing photographs, a banker waiting his turn, or a firemen rushing in from the pouring rain, we have a place to fill in our community. By taking that place, we are given an incredible opportunity to do what God has planned for us to do. This sense of impacting our community as we are a part of it can get in our ears and in our eyes, but most of all, it must get in our hearts...which isn't very strange...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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