Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Other Side" (Hugh Jackman and Zach Efron)




Welcome to Tuesday!   It's time for your weekly foray into the barely imaginable!  Music with a message!  Songs with a Spirit!  Tunes that are triumphant!  Harmonies with a heart!  Right here, right now!  It is time for Tuesday's Musical Notes!  Thanks for being here!  Trust me, it'll be just fine!!!

Right here, right now!  I put the offer out.  I don't wanna chase you down, I know you've seen it! You read, this blog, and it will cut the smog, the hazy fog of all the online trappings.  So trade that typical, for something colorful, and if it's crazy, boy is it crazy!  You can read the sensible, blogs so conventional, or read the Notes each week, you'll see...


Occasionally a film, song, or album comes along that affects you in ways you never thought could be possible.  We like what we like and it is rare that anything can change our minds or impact our hearts.  On the rare occasion where a reaction occurs in us, we feel something we had not expected.  Sometimes this manifests itself emotionally, other times our reaction is more visceral.  Despite the manifestation of the impact, our lives are changed by having viewed or listened to said stimuli.  

The 20th Century Fox theatrical release, The Greatest Showman, has had the above-mentioned effect on me. I can't, nor do I want, to get the songs out of my head.  The vision turned reality of Barnum's museum is an inspiration to anyone who has ever had a dream of any kind.  The intense desire to be seen as credible and legitimate in our endeavors is something with which most can relate.  The deals and sacrifices that are made for that validity show the desperation to see dreams come true.  The reuniting and recommitting to those most important to us is something that even the most cold-hearted can be profoundly affected.  Add to all of this one of the most memorable soundtracks EVER and you have the trifecta that is The Greatest Showman...showbiz, story, and song!  If you get the opportunity to experience this movie in theaters, I highly recommend it.  

In recent years, much has been made of making deals. Perhaps you have made a few yourself.  Ever bought a car?  a house?   There are political deals made in Washington made by representatives. President of the United States, Donald Trump, has even written a book about how making deals can be an art form. (Like his policies or not, this book has become known as a primer for negotiating in business.)  There are international trade deals.  As you can see, negotiating and making contracts are a part of everyday business in the world.

Yes, there can even be deals in our relationship with God, the Father.  Ever try to make a deal with God?  Maybe it went something like this...God, if you just get me the resources to buy this new convertible, I'll drive all over the countryside with the top down, blaring "Jesus Freak"...or maybe it looked like this..."God, if you'll keep me alive another year, I promise every day will be lived for you...  If we're honest, we have probably attempted to make a deal similar to or somewhere in between the above deals.  

Today, we want to talk about a skilled negotiator.  While his presence is felt through the Bible, today I want to focus on 3 occasions where his presence seems to take center ring.  In this world, he truly wishes to take folks to the other side.  His name is Satan.

In the earliest chapters of the Bible, after God had said that everything He had created was good, we see Satan take the form of a serpent and begin the first negotiations against God's plan.  While his wheeling and dealing are not of a cause and effect nature, he does use doubt and temptation to bring about his overt machinations.  Genesis 3 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel  

"So trade that typical for something colorful, And if it's crazy, live a little crazy. You can play it sensible, a king of conventional Or you can risk it all and see."

Eve and then Adam made the choice to close the deal with their disobedience.  I find it interesting to note:  they could have eaten from the everlasting life tree and achieved immortality.  The Bible does not say they were denied access to this tree.  Adam and Eve were only closed off from knowledge of good and evil tree.  They had 1 rule and they could not stand in their perfection long enough to obey it.  We have 2 rules.  Love God, love everyone else and yet by any measurable standards we disobey that many times a day, even as we rely on the strength of God to help us.  

Secondly, we see the deal maker going to God to secure a soul.  Many theologians consider the story of Job to have happened sometime around the days of Abraham.  While the poetry of Job is exquisite, and there can be lessons learned from his friend's diatribes, our focus today is on the beginning and end of the book.  God begins the discourse by asking Satan what he's been up to?  Satan replies and then God hits him with Job.  "Have you considered my servant Job?"  Satan once again attempts to stir up doubt, by questioning Job's allegiance to God.  Job 1 NIV/The Message/ESV   Satan literally takes Job to the other side by stripping him of everything except his life.  Job remains firm in his convictions and trusts  God to see him through to the blessed other side.  Job 42 NIV/The Message/ESV

Finally, Satan attempts to make the ultimate coup.  He goes to Jesus to make a deal.  He appeals to the humanity of Jesus while ignoring His deity.  

"Don't you wanna get away from the same old part you gotta play, 'Cause I got what you need so come with me and take the ride. It'll take you to the other side."  

The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew 4:1-11 NIV/The Message/ESVLuke 4:1-13 NIV/The Message/ESV  (Jesus temptation is also briefly mentioned in Mark 1:12-13 NIV/The Message/ESV)  At each of Satan's offers, Jesus counters with a passage of scripture that denies the enemy's power.  

In all of these examples, ultimately the deal goes sour for Satan.  Through the descendants of Eve, Jesus is born.  Through Job's faithfulness, God is exalted and Job is restored.  Through Jesus' willingness to be tempted as we are, He gained the victory and angels attended him.  

There is one other deal that needs to be made today.  There is an urgency by which the negotiations must be settled.  God has already put the offer out.  He sealed His end of the deal with the blood of His Son, Jesus.  He is willing to chase us down and confront us with the permanence of this deal.  The Bible describes God as patient while he awaits your response to His gracious and merciful offer.     The Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans 2:3-4The Disciple Peter's 2nd Letter to Christians in Various Regions of the Roman Empire 3:8-9  

Be reminded, however, this offer from God is one to which there can be no counteroffer.  You accept or deny.  There is no guarantee that the offer will be made again.  Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthian Church 6:1-2

So what'll it be friend?  Wanna go to the other side?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Come Alive" (The Greatest Showman Cast)

Ladies and Gentlemen!  Come one, come all, come in, come on!! Welcome to the greatest show!!!  Prepare your minds and imaginations for a feast of the fantastical,  a directory of the dramatic and an amalgamation of all things alive!  Open your minds as we investigate the newest entry to Tuesday's Musical Notes - The Greatest Showman series!  We present to you today in the center ring, the next installment of the blog that has no equal
!!!
 (No really, there isn't a blog like this anywhere...we've checked!) We welcome your minds, souls, and spirits to join with us as we "Come Alive"!!!




Television executives seem to be hooked on doing "live" performances of classic movies.  Much like the days of the variety show, these productions have very much of a "being there" vibe.  I've seen a few of them and while they don't equal the quality of the original movie, they do have their place.  This year's live show was taken from the classic Christmas movie, The Christmas Story.  (Disclaimer:  I haven't seen the movie, nor did I watch the live show)  As a lead up to the performance, it was advertised that there would be a unique preview of The Greatest Showman, a movie my family wanted to see.  So the next day we did the youtube thing and watched what happened.  To our surprise and delight, the "live" production included this "live" commercial:


Once you move into Tuesday's Musical Notes land it doesn't take long to realize that we are all about the trivial, the back story, the behind the scenes of the songs/entertainment that we consume.  Today is no exception!  Let's pull back the curtain (yes I know that's a different movie, but it works for today as well...humor me) and see what we can find as we visit the making of "Come Alive"!


Have I suggested that you see this movie?

Along with the other songs from The Greatest Showman, "Come Alive" was penned by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album debuted at #71 on the Billboard 200 album chart but soon soared up to the #1 spot after the movie was released.  Featuring song after song of infectious ear candy, The Greatest Showman soundtrack also continues to be the #1 album downloaded at iTunes.  If you love musicals, show business, and entertainment, in general, we can highly recommend going to your local theater and seeing this movie!  Warning!  You should probably budget an extra $10 for the soundtrack that you WILL purchase as you exit the multiplex.  


"You stumble through your days 
got your head hung low, 
your skies' a shade of grey
Like a zombie in a maze, 
you're asleep inside 
but you can shake awake

'Cause you're just a dead man walking  
Thinking that's your only option
But you can flip the switch and brighten up your darkest day
Sun is up and the color's blinding  
Take the world and redefine it
Leave behind your narrow mind  
You'll never be the same

Come alive, come alive  
Go and light your light  
Let it burn so bright
Reaching up 
to the sky 
and it's open wide
You're electrified"


Have you ever had THAT day?  Maybe it hasn't been your week, your month, or your year? (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'll Be There For You")  Or maybe if you were to be real honest, you have a good life, yet something seems to be missing.  You're happy, but you feel asleep inside.  You are content, but you're like that zombie in a maze.  Maybe you even have everything that by all standards would make one exuberant and full of glee...yet your days are filled with darkness.  

So...what can be done?

Flip the switch and brighten up that darkened day!  The Son has risen and is alive!!! Believing in Him redefine's your world and you'll never be the same!  Don't believe me? Well, dear friend, let's consult THE book of Truth!


The letter from Paul to the Ephesian church is written as an encouragement to the church to keep their love "alive".  Paul was looking for those things that would reignite the flames of their first love for Jesus.  He opens Ephesians praying for the church to have wisdom. (Is that something we need in our churches as well?) Paul takes the next 5 chapters and offers encouragement to the believers who make up the body of the church at Ephesus.  

One thing you may notice, this letter is intended for believers to consume.  This does not denigrate the message for folks in Ephesus to believe that Jesus affords salvation.  Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus can see the instructions for Christian living and listen to the call of Holy Spirit on their lives...


"Come one!  Come all!  Come in!  Come on!

To anyone who's bursting with a dream

Come one!  Come all!  You hear the call!

To anyone who's searching for a way to break free

Break free!  Break free!"

You may notice the warning towards the end of chapter 5 to not "grieve Holy Spirit".  This is a caution to which everyone should take note.  You see, friend,  the Bible talks about only one wrongdoing, sin, that is unforgivable.  That's right!  EVERYTHING else you may do or have done that was a sin, can be forgiven.  All you have to do is believe Jesus is who He said He was, turn away from and stop doing said sins (repent), ask forgiveness, and the Bible says you will be forgiven. This is salvation.  Holy Spirit elicits you to believe.  Holy Spirit begs you to repent.  Yet, there is another warning to be found in this wooing process...


Jesus is saying that there is a limit to how long Holy Spirit will ask you to believe.  For you to continually say "no" to this prompting is 
the only sin that can not be forgiven.  So, what will you do?  Will you continue to believe the lie, hide your face and lock the door?  Or will you..."Come alive, come alive  Go and light your light  Let it burn so bright"


'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy 

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "A Million Dreams" (Ziv Zaifman, Michelle Williams, and Hugh Jackman)





Ladies and Gentlemen, we welcome you today to a spectacular pageant beyond belief!  We welcome you today to engage your senses to an otherworldly occasion that is rarely under anyone's control!!  We welcome you today to an enlightenment that you have never experienced before!!!  Cast your eye on the center of your screen as the brightest colors begin to fill your head from the sights and sounds of a song from one of this year's biggest movie hits (and in my opinion one of the best movies of all time!)...We welcome you today to dream!!!  Does all of this sound crazy? Does it sound like we've lost our mind?  You might say that! 


The movie loosely based on the life of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman, continues to be a surprise to moviegoers. Critics don't really like it very much, yet those same critics are giving it award nominations. (Tuesday's Musical Notes very rarely allows the review of an "accredited", yet very out of touch with the real world, writer to bend its judgement regarding movies and music, we'd rather hear what our friends and family think!) It's soundtrack is the #1 album downloaded at iTunes, and I can hardly wait to see it again!  If you haven't gotten the jist, this is a MUST SEE movie for folks who love music and the early days of the entertainment industry.  Here's the trailer:


There have been many years of documented studies regarding dreams.  (again refer to the aforementioned "accredited" folks)  The internet is littered with those who portray themselves as having insight into an interpretation of what these dreams mean.  We suggest caution if you engage these sites.  

Some dreams are very scary, others provide a state of euphoria that is rarely experienced when our eyes are open.  I don't know about you, but I wish I could just sleep some nights, yet, for whatever reason, the subconscious takes over and I've moved to Florida, remerchandised a store, or been chased by a gorilla in our garage. (I woke everyone in the house up with that one!)

However, the dreams spoken of in today's song, "A Million Dreams", speak of the ideas that you can't get out of your mind.  Brilliant colors fill your view as you utilize your imagination to see the desire of your heart.  These are the ideas that you align your life goals and work towards with everything that you are.  They permeate everything you do with a gnawing sense that you must take steps to see that dream to its end to live a filled life.  The Notes has tackled the topic of this kind of dream a couple of times: 


The Bible has many stories related to dreams of the kinds we have discussed.  Most notably, Joseph (Genesis 37 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallelGenesis 39-45 NKJV/The Message) and Daniel (Daniel - NKJV/The Message) in the Old Testament and Paul and John in the New Testament.  

The disciple John was part of Jesus' inner circle, along with Peter and James who was John's brother.  He spent 3 1/2 years in constant companionship with Jesus.  He was witness to the trial, and execution of Jesus.  He was given the responsibility to care over Mary, Jesus' mother, when Jesus was dying.  He was one of the first to the empty tomb where Jesus body had been placed.  He also wrote the Gospel of John, 3 letters to churches that John had established as he went about preaching the Gospel, and the book of Revelation that John saw while exiled on the island of Patmos for the preaching he had done about Jesus.  

The book of Revelation continues to be one that provides many interpretations, conversations, and occasionally consternation.  Jesus promised the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for those who believe He is who He said He is.  John saw the events that lead up to the fulfillment of that promise, the world Jesus is gonna make for those who accept His lordship over their life and repent (turn away) from the wrong they do.  

"I close my eyes and I can see
The world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home"

You many notice that while there were times John was fearful of the events that he was seeing, he had the confidence in Whose he was to continue to view it.  John knew that at the end of all of the things he was seeing would be Jesus and the new world that He was building.  Imagine how those first readers to Revelation must have felt:

"They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that He designed"

Dear friend, please be encouraged to read scripture that details what is to come.  You may not completely understand it. Do not be intimidated by those passages that seem out of our mind's reach.  Imagine how John felt while he was seeing it?  We've come along way since the time that John witnessed all of this.  Read the prophecies and dreams that are detailed in the Bible with courage and hope, not fear and trepidation.   Allow Holy Spirit to provide interpretation for you.  He knows you well enough to determine what you can understand.  Trust in this and continue to read all of the Bible with that mindset.  You never can tell, you might find yourself...dreaming...

"'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the One I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world He's gonna make"

'Til Tuesday,


Serving HIM by serving You,
randy

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Greatest Show" (The cast of The Greatest Showman)



Welcome to Tuesday!!!  Welcome to 2018 and another year of the blog that continually asks the questions...1) Is there really good music still being made? 2) Can these melodies combined with lyrics make an impact on our lives today? 3) What difference do I make as I go through this life?  Wait...that is a little heavy for a blog that purports the playful pentatonic and merry minors that infiltrate the musical fabric of our lives...really...you expect something less?

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes, the blog that combines the best of music at the behest of pondering life's mysteries.  Most weeks we choose ear candy from previous years.  Ah...the good 'ol days...  Every once in a while we plunder the plethora of more recent music to engage readers with the diversity of which we are so pleased to enjoy in our day and age.

Today is such a day where Tuesday's Musical Notes hopes to create a sense of desire, a pathway to passion, a fortissimo of feelings towards some new music introduced in a way that only the modern day cinema can do, via The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you will direct your attention to the center of your screen, we present for your intended pleasure a listening extravaganza of the like you have never experienced before!!!  (unless of course, you've seen the film) Tuesday's Musical Notes is pleased to present a song that will have you exclaiming..."WOAH!!!"


On December 20th, 2017 a movie debuted based VERY loosely on the life of Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum, The Greatest Showman.  In your humble blogger's opinion, this movie lives up to its opening song and today's feature song.   It is one of the best movies I have seen in years.  What makes it so great you may ask?  Allow me the following elucidation.  It beckons back to a big movie musical age that we haven't seen in many years.  Is this a trend?  I sure hope so.  I'm told 2016's La La Land is similar.  They share the same lyricist, so one can only imagine there are some similarities.   The Greatest Showman features a cast of likable characters with flaws. The characters are instantly relatable.  They overcome their flaws to succeed in the early days of show business when there were no green screens, digital reshoots, or stuntmen standing by to shoot dangerous scenes.  Yes, there were deceptions in the original PT Barnum museum, and this movie hints at such things. (again, VERY loosely based...) But this movie goes past any of those deceptions to tap into the entrepreneurial American spirit.  This untoward company is not superheroes, they are not fighting a galactic war, nor are they getting zapped into a video game. But they have maintained a #4 box office behind the aforementioned themes.  If you love music, if you love happy endings, if you love, love stories, if you love show business, you HAVE to see this film.   Here's the trailer in case you need further convincing:


"God spoke: "Light!"" - (Genesis 1:2a The Message paraphrase of the Bible). "Woah!" "Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for..."Woah!" Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor..."   In reality, the greatest show began long before P.T. Barnum and his American Museum.  Some scientists would place the creation of the earth at millions of years ago. ( Earth’s Beginnings: The Origins of Life By Eric McLamb, September 10, 2011, ecology.com Others view creation as having happened only 4000-5000 years ago.  (Could God Really Have Created Everything in Six Days? by Ken Ham on September 27, 2007, answersingenesis.com)  We highly recommend you read both of the above articles, not just the one in which you are most likely to agree.   There are some big differences in the ideologies that each article purports.  With age there is coming a sense in me that very little is in the gray areas that so many folks choose in which to develop their world view.  Reality however dictates that the overwhelming majority of what we make decisions regarding comes down to this.  Is this truth or not? There is no middle ground, confusing gray area.  What is your spirit telling you is the truth?  Tuesday's Musical Notes leans more towards the Answers In Genesis model, yet we chose to provide both ends of the creation spectrum for your perusal.  Regardless of the timeline, when God spoke light into existence, it became the greatest light show ever.  

"God spoke: Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!" (Genesis 1:6 The Message) "Woah!" "And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore Taking your breath, stealing your mind And all that was real is left behind..."  At this moment, in the newly formed light, there was a separation between moisture in the atmosphere and moisture in what would become earth.  Can you just imagine as light was shining for the first time that the liquid form of water was being separated from the gaseous form of water and the result of the separation was what we consider the sky.  

"God spoke: “Separate!  Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!” (Genesis 1:9 The Message) "Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya It's only this moment, don't care what comes after Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer Just surrender 'cause you feel the feeling taking over..."  This is almost unimaginable to the mind.  The oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and ponds are all beginning to coalesce in the low places where the land begins to surround it as it is rising up to take its place as the earth. 

"God spoke: “Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, Every sort of fruit-bearing tree.” (Genesis 1:11 The Message)  "It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open It's a preacher in the pulpit and you'll find propulsion, There's something breaking at the brick of every wall it's holding I'll let you know, so tell me do you wanna go?"  I can't imagine that this was a normal process of vegetation. Can you see with your mind's eye all sorts of grass, bushes, and trees growing as if they were in a time-lapse video loop?  Time Lapse of Sunflower from Seed to Flower

"God spoke: “Lights! Come out!  Shine in Heaven’s sky!  Separate Day from Night.  Mark seasons and days and years, Lights in Heaven’s sky to give light to Earth."  (Genesis 1:14 The Message) "Where it's covered in all the colored lights, Where the runaways are running the night, Impossible comes true, it's taking over you,  Oh, this is the greatest show!"   Does anyone need a calendar?  This is how our system of time began.  Time began ticking, ticking, ticking into the future when God called night and day to be different. At that moment history began.  At that moment there was a future and a past.  At that moment, the show was just getting started!  Woah!!!

"God spoke: “Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!  
Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!” (Genesis 1:20 The Message)  "
We light it up, we won't come down, And the sun can't stop us now, Watching it come true, it's taking over you, Oh, this is the greatest show!!!"  Organisms that we still see today became real at this juncture.  They flew and they swam as the grand director read His score to the soundtrack of life.

"God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:  cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds.” (Genesis 1:24 The Message) "Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya, It's only this moment, don't care what comes after, It's blinding outside and I think that you know, Just surrender 'cause you're calling and you wanna go"  The basics of everything we know of as life, everything that was needed to support what we know of as life, the perfection that only a Holy Creator God could make, was here at this point in time.  But the show wasn't over!

"God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”  (Genesis 1:26 The Message)

"Where it's covered in all the colored lights
Where the runaways are running the night
Impossible comes true, intoxicating you
Oh, this is the greatest show
We light it up, we won't come down
And the sun can't stop us now
Watching it come true, it's taking over you
Oh, this is the greatest show"

God waited until the zenith of creation to make and reveal the star of His show, His masterpiece!  Man was created to reflect the nature of God.  Man was created to be responsible for the rest of what had been created, including the earth.  Man was created to have a relationship with God.  That relationship was and is now broken.  But now, He waits to restore you.  He's everything you ever want, He's everything you ever need, and He's waiting right in front of you. Tell me do you wanna go?

Even with all of this grandeur, as the Greatest Show of creation comes to a close, something lurks in the shadows portending choices that will be made and ultimately a sacrifice that will be given.

P.T. Barnum was a great coordinator of entertainment.  He was known all over the world for his shows of the astounding.  Yet, in all his years of making people gasp and smile, his was not the greatest show.  That title was reserved for THE Ringmaster In The Beginning...

'Til Tuesday


Serving Him by serving You,
randy

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "This WIll Be Our Year" (The Zombies)

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the first Tuesday of 2018!!! I hope your New Year's Eve celebrations were joyous, festive, and safe!  I hope that during New Year's Eve, you took a moment to reflect on the previous year.  I hope that you awoke on New Year's Day refreshed, renewed, and ready to engage with the opportunity that a new year affords each of us.  The reality is that some of the folks you encounter today, may not have awoken feeling refreshed, renewed or ready.  Don't be judgemental, be gracious and kind.  Because in fact, they may not feel much better than Zombies...


Recorded at Olympic Road Studios and Abbey Road Studios (yes, THAT Abbey Road.  It wasn't just for The Beatles) on June 2 and August 15 of 1967, "This Will Be Our Year" was the 9th track of an album that Rolling Stone has placed at #100 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.  An album whose title came about from the art teacher/cover designer's misspelling of the word "Odyssey".  The band would, later on, claim that the mistake was intentional to drive sales and bring attention to the album.  The band broke up in December of 1967, prior to the release of Odessey and Oracle, which initially was received by mixed reviews and mediocre sales.  

After the album gained traction and "Time of the Season" charted, 2 "fake bands" were created by Delta Promotions, who had other fakes for The Animals and The Archies, to tour as The Zombies in 1969.  One of those bands was from Texas and included future ZZ Top members Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.   

Other than having a cursory knowledge of their biggest hits, the #2 "She's Not There" from 1964 and the 1968's #3 smash, "Time of the Season", most folks don't find The Zombies as a staple to their playlist.  Despite this, The Zombies reorganized in 2000 with 2 of its original members and have seen success in the 60's revival tours that continue to pop up all over the world.  For the 50th Anniversary of Odessey and Oracle, the four surviving original members joined to tour.  In May of 2017, The Zombies were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Today's song never charted but was most prominently heard at the close of episode 2, season 7 of AMC's Mad Men.  It was perfectly placed as a closing titles song for an episode set in 1969, refreshing the song, and allowing The Zombies to be exposed to a new generation of musicologists.   With this introduction to new fans, Seems like even after 50 years, folks can have a new thing that begins.  

The book of Isaiah is filled with prophecies of the "new".  dictionary.com defines this word as, 

of recent origin, production, purchase, etc.; having but lately come or been brought into being

Isaiah speaks of new songs, new things, and of a new sacrifice.  As a prophet, Isaiah would have preached want we could call the good 'ol "hellfire and brimstone" messages to the straying nation of Israel.  But about chapter 40, Isaiah's demeanor turns to the future and the hope of one who will be that new sacrifice.  

God speaks through Isaiah in chapter 42:

Isaiah 42:8-10Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to anotheror my praise to idols.
The past events have indeed happened.Now I declare new events;  I announce them to you before they occur.”
10 Sing a new song to the Lord;  sing his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea with all that fills it,you coasts and islands with your[a] inhabitants.  (emphasis Tuesday's Musical Notes)




He tells Isaiah of future hope in chapter 43: 

Isaiah 43:18-20Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

18 “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.19 Look, I am about to do something new;  even now it is coming. Do you not see it?Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.


I don't know about you, but that seems to be sound advice for the beginning of a new year regardless what age in which you live!

And finally through Isaiah, God tells Israel that He is in control of everything, including the "new" things they have yet to experience:


Did you catch verse 7?  

And that was just the beginning.
    I have a lot more to tell you,
    things you never knew existed.
This isn’t a variation on the same old thing.
    This is new, brand-new,
    something you’d never guess or dream up.
When you hear this you won’t be able to say,
    ‘I knew that all along.’  (The Message paraphrase of Isaiah 48:7)

This is a chapter so filled with hope!  This is a chapter that lets the pressure off of us because if we consider these passages truth, we will soon come to the conclusion that we have no control over anything!  We had no control over the events of 2017 and have no control over the events of 2018.  That my friend is a freedom that far too many of us don't allow ourselves the luxury of being in.  

Yes, we should consider last year's events, the good and the bad.  They were equally outside of our control.  Perhaps you have seen the facebook comments regarding folks whose last year wasn't one they considered good.  In the context of what we see in Isaiah, last year probably wasn't that much different than any other year.  Also in that context, this year will probably be like any other year.  The difference is when we allow our thoughts to dwell on God having control of EVERYTHING, our frustration levels, sadness, problems, and worries all seem to diminish in the wake of His presence over our lives.  AND we can look forward in joyful expectation to see what "new" things God has in store for this coming year. 

The promises of the Bible are proven time and again to be true.  They continue to be true in 2018.  However, the promises of the Bible must be kept in the context of which they were written.  Perhaps you have heard the passage, 

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"  
Jeremiah 29:11 sounds like a really great promise from God.  But, we must also hear what God is saying to us through the entire passage to which verse 11 happens to be the centerpiece!!!  


In context, it is plain to see that God is in control, but we must do our part by staying in His will to see His plan fulfilled.  When we sin, as everyone on earth does, we create separation from those plans for prosperity.  When we sin, we diminish His plans to give us hope.  If we do not repent of our sin, we stand the chance of damaging our future.  
For this to be our year, we must turn from the sin that so easily besets us, this is called repentance.  For this to be our year we must call out to God and pray to Him.  He says that He will hear and will answer.  For this to be our year we must seek God, seek Him with all our heart, through reading His Word, fellowship/ be making new disciples with His other adopted children and proclaiming the Good News to all who will listen.  

In 2018, if we make securing our relationship with God through Jesus a priority, spend the year making sure we continue to reinforce and build on that relationship and then wait in eager expectation for the new God will do, we won't be walking around like Zombies...

But we can sing...

"You don't have to worry
All your worried days are gone
      This will be our year
      Took a long time to come"



'Til Tuesday


Serving HIM by serving You,
randy