Tuesday's Musical Notes - "How to Save a Life" (The Fray)

Oh!  Hi there!   How are you?   Feeling ok today?   It's Tuesday!  Does that help?   Well, maybe an injection of favorite songs and introspective thoughts will be of benefit!  Maybe all you need is a moment to read today's Tuesday's Musical Notes!  Feeling better already aren't you?  

Welcome to the May 29th, 2018 edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  We hope you took an opportunity to remember those who have given the "final full measure of devotion" as they died in service for our freedom.  So many times, we fly past Memorial Day and forget why this holiday was established.  These patriots truly knew the meaning of laying your life down for another.  In some ways, they gave their lives to demonstrate to the world how to save a life...

"How to Save a Life" - title track to the 2006 album by The Fray

The 2nd single from the debut album by The Fray went as high as #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  What is equally impressive is that it ties at 7th for the longest stretch of continuous time on the chart.  At 58 consecutive weeks on Billboard's tally, it ties with Santana's 1999 smash "Smooth".    Since its release in 2006, it has sold over 4.7 million in downloads alone, making it the 4th best selling digital rock song in history.  It was also named as the 58th best song of the decade (2000-2009) on Billboard's Hot 100 of the Decade listing.  

Fans of the song know that it had a little help from some friends...

"How to Save a Life" - Grey's Anatomy 

It also soon became a cast favorite.  So much so that it inspired a segment in the Music Event episode of Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy Music Event - "How to Save a Life"

Fans of the song may also remember it from another medical television show:

"How to Save a Life" from the "My Lunch" episode of the television series Scrubs

The song was not however inspired by any medical TV show, institution or procedure.  In fact, Isaac Slade, lead singer for The Fray, has explained that the inspiration for the song came from an experience that he and guitarist Joe King had at a camp for troubled teens where Slade served as a mentor for a weekend.  The event served to remind the songwriter of those friends he had lost due to poor choices they had made and his seeming inability to help save them.   

There have been many things written about the benefits of having a mentor and being a mentor.  The incredible organization Big Brothers/Big Sisters have pioneered some of the more positive aspects of being there for those who are younger.  (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America)

While the benefits are many, I wonder if we haven't attempted to strategize/program/organize a process that in reality should be very simple.  In reality, you can not schedule mentoring, regardless of how hard you try.  It is kind of like discpleship.  Churches around the world have attempted to disciple folks through literature and classes.  But doesnt' the best mentoring/discipling happen when you have a strong relationship with someone else?  How do you best invest in those you wish to influence?  It is the recipe for how to save a life...

The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John, chapter 3, verses 1-21 - New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

John 10:1-21 NIV/The Message/ESV

John 15:9-13 NIV/The Message/ESV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A24-28&version=NIV;MSG;ESV

Acts of the Apostles of Jesus, chapter 16, verses 25-31 - NIV/The Message/ESV

Step one, you say we need to talk.  Simple as that.  Just talk.  Find out likes/dislikes.  Don't worry if they are smiling politely back at you.  By spending time with folks, both younger and older than yourself, you get the opportunity to invest as well as be invested in by both demographics with an ultimate goal of saving lives.  Mentoring is just a fancy pseudopsychological way of saying spending time with people, getting to know them and allowing them to get to know you.  The better your relationship with them, the easier it should be to talk to them about things that really matter, such as The Gospel of Jesus, the best way to save a life.  

There is such trepidation when it comes to sharing your faith.  Eliminate it by making friends of folks.  There is much fear of rejection if we put ourselves out there by telling others about Jesus.  Spend enough time with folks that even if they reject Jesus, the door isn't closed for you to be able to tell them again at a later time and then pray to God they hear you.

One thing we must remember in our efforts to build relationships and tell folks about Jesus:  We Don't Save Anyone's Life.  Only by Holy Spirit's drawing and their submission can their life be saved.  Here is a much better explanation of what salvation means:

"What Is Salvation? (Also: Why It's Needed and How to Get It)" by Mike Leake a featured article at crosswalk.com

Want to know how to save a life?  Spend time with folks, share with them your love and the love of Jesus, even if there is a season of bitterness, show them your willing to stay up with them all night,  and you may just have shown them how to save a life...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Three is a Magic Number" (Schoolhouse Rock - Bob Dorough)

Welcome to Tuesday and the May 21st, 2018 edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  

On occasion, Tuesday's Musical Notes has taken the opportunity to emphasize the contributions of musicians who have died, leaving behind a tremendous impact on the landscape of culture and the history of music.  The lives of Tom Petty (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You Don't Know How It Feels"), Prince (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Let's Go Crazy"), and Natalie Cole (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Unforgettable") have been celebrated as the great contributors to music that they were. But dear friends, Tuesday's Musical Notes has been remiss in the celebration of an iconic figure in the music industry whose songs have impacted lives all around the world.  Today we make up for that.

 "Three is a Magic Number" from Schoolhouse Rock from 1973's Multiplication Rock by Bob Dorough

He is one of only a handful of musicians to provide vocals albums by jazz great Miles Davis.  ("Blue Xmas" from 1962's Jingle Bell Jazz AND "Nothing Like You" from 1967's Sorcerer).  He served in World War II as an arranger, pianist, clarinetist, and sax player in Army bands.  He recorded 28 albums of his own music and was a player/arranger/contributor on 17 others, most notably the 2 aforementioned Miles Davis albums.  He was born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas and in 1998 was inducted into the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame.  He passed away on April 23rd of this year at the age of 94. 

He left behind an impressive Jazz legacy but should be best remembered for the heirloom of combining book learning and beat loving...His most important contribution to music was not his Jazz albums, the Jazz legends he worked with, or the worldwide travel that he was able to do because of his Army enlistment and touring.  You see, Bob Dorough was one of the creative team members of something that assists me even still today, perhaps it does you too!!!  He was one of the first to pioneer the idea that learning is easier when you wrap it in a song... "'cause knowledge is power!!!"

If you happen to be in the United States from 1973 to 2009, there is a chance that you heard one of Bob Dorough's songs.  This is the time period that an interstitial segue ran during Saturday morning programming.  Ah, the good ol days where you could plan your Saturday by Scooby, JabberJaw, Bugs, Road Runner, and Daffy.  In between these great Saturday morning cartoons would come commercials and for over 4 decades, Schoolhouse Rock.  "As your body grows bigger, your mind must flower..."  

Bob Dorough would write all of the lyrics and music for the first season, Multiplication Rock which debuted with "Three is a Magic Number" on January 13, 1973.  He would be a contributor or writer for all of the remaining seasons.  (Grammar Rock, (1973,'74,& '76),  America Rock ('75, '76, '79, 2002), Science Rock ('78 & '79), Money Rock ('94, 95, & '96), and Earth Rock (2009).  

I confess to you that there have been scholastic tests, high school as well as college, where I have sung one or more of the Schoolhouse Rock songs to answer a question.  Go on, admit it.  You did too!!!  And, You have all of a sudden flashbacked to your own favorite Schoolhouse Rock song.  I know, I know I should have sent an earworm alert because "Conjunction Junction" or "I'm Just a Bill" are going on in your head right now... As always we assumed you would want a countdown of the best of the series.   See where your favorite lands on Entertainment Weekly's countdown of Schoolhouse Rock favorites.  'Schoolhouse Rock!': Our Top 15 list by Abby West, February 6, 2013 Entertainment Weekly

Schoolhouse Rock all began with today's feature song, "Three is a Magic Number"  In modern culture, the number three has quite a bit of significance.  Who doesn't love a three-day weekend?  Ever heard of the Star Wars Trilogy? (that would be Episode 4, 5,& 6.  So far all the rest haven't quite honestly lived up to the hype, but I digress)  There is the Triple Crown in horse racing (Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes).  There is every gambler's dream of winning a trifecta. But more important than all of these are the three that were in the beginning...The Trinity!

Genesis 1:26 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

Now, if you were paying attention to "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla" when Grammar Rock aired, you know the importance of pronouns.  In verse 26 of Genesis chapter 1, the pronoun "us" is very important as it goes to establish that while not magic, Three is still a significant number.  There are many in this world that would deny or at the very least doubt the existence of the Trinity in any instance much less the creation account we are considering as our focus today.  But who is the "us" to which God refers in verse 26?

To get to the Three-in-One, we have to go back to the first three verses of Genesis.  You see, God does nothing without order.  As He was getting ready to go "Big" and say "Bang" (Tuesday's Musical Notes "Big Bang" theory)(If God ever said "Bang" it really isn't recorded in the Bible...just a bit of creation humor...yet who would argue that the universe He spoke into existence isn't big, again, we digress) God spoke of Himself, Holy Spirit, and Jesus.  Let's unpack that, shall we?

Verse 1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth..." - who needs a Schoolhouse Rock song for that, pretty simple right? God, the Father, creator of all things, was obviously present at the beginning of all things.

Verse 2 "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."  The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  Holy Spirit was anticipating what God was going to do next.  God, the Holy Spirit, the One who communes with our spirit and continues to anticipate what God will do next in our lives, was present at creation. 

Verse 3 "And God said, “Let there be Light,” and there was Light."  Jesus who was waiting for God to call Him into the darkness of this world appears on the scene at this moment.  Oh, but Randy...you're using a dual meaning of words to make Scripture to prove your point, ok, so don't rely on me, let's see what Jesus says.  He explains it pretty plainly in The Gospel of Jesus according to John, chapter 8 NIV/The Message/ESV, following this logic, Jesus was present at the formation of what we know of as "everything".

Did you catch that whole "I am the Light of the world" thing?  Let's reread it just to make sure we are catching exactly what Jesus is proclaiming: John 8:12-30 NIV/The Message/ESV Remember, the folks to which Jesus was speaking would have been devout Jews who were very familiar with the Pentateuch, the first five chapters of the Bible.  When Jesus uses the same word for "Light" that Moses used in Genesis 1, His declaration frames Genesis in an entirely different structure than what they had come to believe.  To these devout Jews, One was the only number with which they were concerned.  But here comes Jesus, teaching that Three is actually more important than one.  No wonder He was called a rebel.  No wonder He was called a charlatan. No wonder the crucified Him as a blasphemer. 

For a more in-depth analysis of the Trinity at Creation, let's go to the experts, our friends at Answers in Genesis:

"The Trinity and Creation" by Paul F. Taylor, from February 15, 2008, answersingenesis.org

Trust me when I say there is no "magic" in numbers.  There are importance and meaning, yes, but no "magic".  The principle of the Trinity is the foundation for my belief.  For without the foundation of the Godhead Three-in-One, the remainder of the Bible becomes what so many think it to be...a really good storybook.  

 And in this context, to some, I suppose..."Three is a Magic Number"

Sing it with me!!!  3,6,9  12,15,18  21,24,27   30

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers)

Welcome to Tuesday and another journey down the pathway of enlightenment known as Tuesday's Musical Notes!  It's a great day in notesland where we continue to ponder the questions of life, love, and relationships.  We hope you'll join us each week and if you have the opportunity, check out the search engine for the archives at the blog to see which of your favorite songs are treated to the sumptuous feast that is Tuesday's Musical Notes.  No really...go look now...there are over 300 songs so far in the archives...unless of course, you've been reading them all along...perhaps you want to review your favorites?...the archives are calling you...

Tuesday's Musical Notes exists to highlight classic music and bring that music into a different Light.  We hope that amongst all the joviality and merriment that you find judiciousness and meaning in what is written each week.  More importantly, we hope that you see repentance in the rhythms, a Savior in the songs, and life change in the unique interpretation of the lyric.  In short, we hope that you realize there are options in life.  There are folks who pray for you and we hope that you have a circle of friends in which you can rely.  Let's face it, we all need somebody to lean on...

"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers from the 1972 album Still Bill

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (inducted in 2015) and Grammy Award winner (Ain't No Sunshine) Bill Withers went to #1 with the first single off of 1972's Still Bill. His success would span from 1963 - 1985.  He grew tired of record label executives attempts at trying to change his sound and would leave the recording industry at the end of his contractual obligations.  

"Lean on Me" would end 1972 as the #7 song for the year.  It would return to #1 when the cover of the song by Club Nouveau peaked at the top spot in 1987 and it would win Withers a Grammy, as the writer, for best R&B song that same year, 15 years after its initial release. "Lean on Me" became one of 9 songs to ever reach #1 twice with different artists recordings.  The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 and was ranked #208 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.    

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain we all have sorrow
But if we are wise we know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs that you don't let show

If there is a load you have to bear that you can't carry
I'm right up the road I'll share your load
If you just call me 

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on 

Just call me...

Wow!  Just wow!  This incredible song gets dusted off whenever there seems to be a natural disaster or national tragedy.  That's a shame.  You know exactly what I mean.  If there is an event whose goal is to promote unity or provide relief from adversity, bring out "Lean on Me"...that'll get the emotions stirred up and the dollars flowin'...

Please pardon the cynism in the above paragraph, but I think so many times the attitude portrayed in "Lean on Me' is one that we should have at ALL times, however, it seems to get pulled out whenever it is expedient to further a cause.  "Lean on Me" isn't alone in this usage.  Sometimes there is a "community" action that will usually entail the enrollment of a favorite, emotion-stirring song to promote activity. Many of these causes are worthy, but I'm curious, Why can't we just have this perspective and philosophy at all times?  Wouldn't everyone's needs be met if we adhered to the tenets of Bill Wither's song?  Why does it take trauma and drama to cause us to go to the aid of our neighbor?  

The answer is relatively simple.  We are bombarded most days with messaging that suggests that above all else we should be taking care of ourselves. This pervasive selfishness feeds everything we do.  Choices we make are metered by scales of what others think.  We look through the lens of acceptance and determine that we would never want to put ourselves out there to help someone who isn't exactly like us.  This base characteristic is the antithesis of why each and every one of us was created.  

You are here on this earth for a reason.  You were born with a purpose.  The rationale for your existence, however, has nothing to do with you.   Your purpose is for the benefit of others.  As put so well in the opening lines of Rick Warren's best-selling book A Purpose Driven Life, "It's not about you."  

"Lean on Me" is a call to living out a lifestyle of service and availability.  Our attitude should be one of readiness and eagerness to help those in need.  Including our enemies.  

The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew, chapter 5, verses 43-48 The Message paraphrase of the Bible

"Lean on Me" is a clarion cry to remember the ultimate love that was displayed on a cross.

The Gospel of Jesus according to John, chapter 15,verses 13-17 The Message

"Lean on Me" is a reminder of One in whom we can consistently depend when our enemies seem to be surrounding us

Psalm 59 New International Version of the Bible/The Message/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

Finally, "Lean on Me" is an example to each of us.  An example of who we can be.  An example of who we are if we follow the ultimate example of sacrificial love, Jesus.  Because regardless of how self-sufficient we may think we are...we all need somebody to lean on...

If you'd like to know more about any of this...just call me...(or in this case, post in the comments section)

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Hooked on a Feeling" (Blue Swede/B.J. Thomas/Baha Men)

Hi there!  It's Tuesday!  Come one and come all!  You've come to the place guaranteed to enthrall!  It's music and ministry, tunes that uplift!  Read closely and carefully your heart it may shift.  We've partnered the passions of melody and scripture.  We've found them to be, quite the really neat mixture.  So sit back don't worry, your mind should not fret!  We're committed to staying til your needs are met.  We've got B.J. and Blue Suede, some Baha Men too, and that is not all that we have for you!  Get ready, don't panic this tune's quite the shocka.  It stays in your mem'ry 'cause it starts ooga-chaka!

"Hooked on a Feeling" title track from the 1974 album by Blue Swede

"Hooked on a Feeling" by B.J. Thomas, from the 1968 album On My Way

"Hooked on a Feeling" from the 1999 album 2 Zero 0-0 by Baha Men

and if that wasn't enough, here's something that may make you grimace

"Hooked on a Feeling", title track from the 1997 album by David Hasselhoff

Try to put THAT out of your memory...

The highest charting and most well-known version of today's feature song got a resurgence by being prominent in the soundtrack for the 2014 Marvel Studios movie Guardians of the Galaxy.  "Hooked on a Feeling" and the other songs on that soundtrack catapulted the album to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Album Chart.  This was the first time an album of completely previously released songs had ever hit #1.  With all of the focus on Starlord's mixtape, the soundtrack reignited the interest in cassette tapes.  Did you know that along with Record Store Day to celebrate vinyl, this day also began highlighting cassette tapes?  I'm getting new batteries for my Walkman!  Will the Zune revival be right around the corner?

Originally recorded in 1968 by B.J. Thomas (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"), "Hooked on a Feeling", which featured an electric sitar (who knew that was a thing?) would peak at # 5 on Billboard's Hot 100.  

The Swedish band, Blue Swede (a play on their nationality, but pronounced "suede") version debuted as a single in 1974 and went all the way to #1. Blue Swede would only exist as a band for 2 years and their 2 albums consist primarily of covers. "Hooked on a Feeling" was their biggest hit.   

The ooga chaka at the beginning of the Blue Swede version of "Hooked on a Feeling" was credited to British singer/songwriter/producer Jonathan King's 1971 cover of the song, which did not chart, nor make much of an impact past the inspiring intro (Really, who HASN'T covered this song?).  

King was an alum of the British boarding school, Charterhouse at Godalming, Surrey.  At a reunion of the school in 1968 and with his music career beginning to flourish, he heard and was enthralled by a band called Anon.  This group consisted of bandmates, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, and Chris Stewart.  King was so impressed with Anon that he would produce the band's first album and rename them to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band we all know and love as Genesis.  After having a successful career as a producer, Jonathan King's notoriety would be tainted in 2001, as he was indicted and convicted for incidents that occurred in the 80's that involved indecent behavior with minor boys.  His music career never recovered.  

It seems many have been "Hooked on a Feeling" as the Blue Swede version of today's song has been used in movies (1992's Reservoir Dogs, and the aforementioned Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks), commercials, by the Toronto Blue Jays as an in-between inning cheer, complete with rally towels (Hooked on A Feeling Toronto Blue Jays Playoff Edition - 2015 ALCS), and TV (Dancing Baby from the Fox Network television show Ally McBeal (1997-2002)).  It has been covered a multitude of times and continues to be that song that once it gets in your head, you really have to listen to a lot of music to get its feelings worked out of your system.  Are you still going ooga chaka?

Have you ever experienced euphoria?  I'm not talking about an unnatural, perhaps drug or alcohol induced state of being, but the feeling of happiness that is beyond all explanation?  If you ever have, it is something that you could certainly get hooked on.  Yet this kind of elation is difficult to sustain for long periods of time.  Even in the most special relationships you have, there are times when you would rather give them the hook than being hooked on your feelings toward them.  I have found that if I can achieve a balance of my feelings, I'm pretty content.  That too I suppose is a feeling to which you could become addicted.  

That's the funny thing about feelings and emotions.  You can't trust them.  Even the Bible says that you sometimes can't trust what's in your heart;  Jeremiah 17:9 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel.  If we can't trust our "deceitful hearts" to be the champion of our passions, what are we to do?  Are we to roll up and down an emotional rollercoaster and hope that the highs and lows equate to a middle somewhere?  The answer to this question is...well...it depends on your worldview. 

If you have a worldview that is founded on the principles of the Bible, God's Story of redemption for mankind, then read on.  If your worldview is founded on something other than the Bible, God's Story of redemption for mankind, please click here:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"

Even if your foundation is the Bible, it is always so important that you use any Biblical passage in its complete context, regardless of translation or paraphrase.  Far too many supposed theologians give Christianity a bad name by misquoting or quoting scripture out of context with the intent of evoking emotion and feelings.  Today's passage from Jeremiah is a perfect example.  There are those, "well-intentioned" folks who would ask, "If our hearts are full of deceit, then how can we trust any decision that we make?" causing indecision and a codependence on things that are more untrustworthy than a deceitful heart.  

If you view this passage in Jeremiah in an endeavor to finish the thought, you see very quickly that while we can't trust our human nature and the feelings that we subscribe to our hearts, we can trust the God who is in control of everything!  Jeremiah 17:9-10 - NIV/The Message/ESV  

God is giving Jeremiah this dossier on the heart in the midst of a prophecy of great turmoil that will occur in Israel and Judah's not too distant future.  God is telling this divided land to not trust anything including their own hearts, but to rely on Him.  In some ways, God was telling His people to not get "hooked" on anything other than a complete dependence on Him.  For the full context read the entire 17th chapter of Jeremiah

(Jeremiah 17 NIV/The Message/ESV)

For believers, our proclamation should be..."I can't stop this feeling, deep inside of me, God, it's hard to realize all you do for me!".  Our love for God should mollify our deceitful hearts.  Our love for our fellow man should be second only to our love for God.  The Ten Commandments testify to this in the Old Testament (Exodus 20 NIV/The Message/ESV), and Jesus commands it in the New Testament (The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew, chapter 22, verses 34-40 NIV/The Message/ESV) These are the standards by which we should live our lives. God is the solid foundation.  He is the one in which we can rely when it feels like we are on that emotional rollercoaster.   It's simple, love God, love everyone else... then sing at the top of your lungs...  I-I-I I'm hooked on THAT feeling...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "All-Star" (Smash Mouth)

Welcome to Uno deMayo!!!  While it is not a party to commemorate a battle or emphasize cultural awareness, it is a day of celebration here at Tuesday's Musical Notes, for you see dear friend it is the first of May AND it's a Tuesday!  What better reason to celebrate than that?!!!  So welcome to the party compadre'!  

How do we choose to celebrate Uno deMayo? With a Musical Note reprint of course!!!.  That's right, only in email land has this Musical Note ever been opined!  So buckle your seatbelt riders of the blogosphere, we're comin' atcha with a little bit 'O Smash Mouth bloggin' from the olden days of yore...or March 6th, 2012 anyways...

Somebody once told me, boy, you really own me when you put your word down to be read.  So I started this blog and before I even knew it, all this stuff kept comin' outta my head...  Hey now! Ya know it's Tuesday!!!  We gotcha Notes here! Let's read!!!  Hey now! It's the best day! Somethin' New here!  Plant seeds!!!

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Where the music is likable and the thoughts are inspiring... At least that's the goal... Welcome as well to the Astro Lounge!!!  A place where you're an All-Star, get your game on....go play.   

All right......state your name and power.....

"All-Star" by Smash Mouth from the 1999 albums Astro Lounge and Mystery Men: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 

It seems that each decade has its musical revolutions.   Respective decades have a style or styles of music that become popular and then fade.  The good styles aren't fads, because they stick around through the following era.   The 50's brought us the origins of Rock-n-Roll, the 60's brought us Psychedelic, the 70's, disco, the 80's, New Wave, the 90's......, well the 90's can best be summed up as an all-inclusive decade for music.  Every kind of music had its surge of popularity.  The 90's musical style was so inclusive that even big band came back for a time and teenagers discovered swing dancing again. Maybe you remember hearing about Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, or Brian Stetzer (Stray Cats) and His Orchestra.

But there was a musical design in the '90s that was an offshoot of Punk music that became a hybrid of styles.  It brought Punk Rock, Rap, Swing and Pop Music together in a blend that would ride one of those short waves of popularity that dominated 90's music.    Welcome to Ska!!!
     

I admit I am no expert on Ska music, but its fans brought a groundswell of support for those who were doing it well.  Christian music featured a few ska bands during the late '80s and '90s.  Bands like Five Iron Frenzy and the O.C. Supertones stretched the stereotypical idea of what Christian bands looked and sounded like.  We even had a couple of bands in Searcy that considered themselves pseudoSka.....is that even a word?  

The biggest band to come from this genre and reach the charts and popular status was Smash Mouth.  Their first 3 albums all went either gold or multiplatinum including their massive hit Astro Lounge, which went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 albums list.  It featured the Smash hit, "All Star".  

Boosted by its appearance in the soundtracks for Mystery Men and Shrek, "All Star" became a hit by being a song that everyone in a family could enjoy.  "All-Star" would be Smash Mouth's highest charting single to date topping out at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100.  It benefitted by the strength of Smash Mouth's chart entering single "Walkin' on the Sun", as well as its fellow track from the movie Shrek,  "I'm a Believer" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm a Believer") 

"All-Star" proved to be an anthem for those who felt left behind or looked down upon by society.  It was a shot in the arm for those whose self-confidence was lacking.  "All-Star took a cue from the premise behind the movie Mystery Men, who were by no means Avenger material.  This band of misfit wannabees took on the bad guys in the best way they knew how employing some out of the ordinary skills to win the day. Proving that if these guys can be successful, anyone be an overcomer.   

You don't have to look very far to see someone who may not have a very good opinion of themselves.  They may even suffer from mental illness on account of their low self-esteem.  Anorexia, Bulimia, and depression are worse case scenarios of the psychological impact of people who think their physical appearance isn't acceptable to others.  This is so counter to what the Bible has to say about us as individuals.  Jesus sacrificed things beyond our imagining to come to the earth and display what He thought our worth was.  The Bible tells us in Genesis that God created man in His own image. Genesis 1:26-31 New International version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel  So why do people have low self-esteem?  Maybe it's because they don't view themselves or others through God's eyes. Psalm 139 NIV/The Message/ESV

Christians are not immune from having a lack of confidence.  We see evidence in this by the fact that Paul reminded Timothy to not have a spirit of fear or timidity but to have a spirit of power, love and sound mind. Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy, chapter 1, verses 6-13 NIV/The Message/ESV    The letter to the Philippians expresses this same thought when in chapter 4 Paul tells the trials that he has overcome and because of his tenacity for the cause of Christ he felt that he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength. Paul's letter to the Philippian church, chapter 4, verses 4-13 NIV/The Message/ESV  

Because of the roadblocks and despite these encouragements many times we don't do the good works that we were created for because we are afraid.  Fear is from our enemy, not from God.  As Christians, the power of Holy Spirit is continually preparing us for those good works.  Paul's letter to the Ephesian church, chapter 2, verses 1-10  Our part is to step out in faith and as the Nike slogan says "JUST DO IT".  "You'll never know if you don't go...you'll never shine if you don't glow...my world's on fire how about yours, that's the way I like it and I never get bored...Hey now! You're an All-Star!!!"

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy