Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walk the Dinosaur" (Was Not Was)

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!  We sure do appreciate you being here on this last Tuesday of the month and this first Tuesday of summer!  We hope you come back again and again regardless what Tuesday it may be!  This is the place where the music of all decades and genre find themselves spotlighted, analyzed, and twisted to mean something perhaps its lyricist never intended.  Welcome, grab your monkey skull to go and let's go walk a pet...shall we?

"Walk the Dinosaur" by Was (not Was) from the 1987 album What up, Dog?

Bolstered by heavy rotation on MTV, "Walk the Dinosaur" plodded its way all the way up to #7 on charts in the United States.  It was the biggest hit for the Detroit band Was (not Was).  

Was (not Was) recorded 5 studio albums.  Surprisingly, the band was able to feature guests such as Ozzy Osbourne, Mitch Ryder, Mel Torme, (1983's Born to Laugh at Tornadoes) and after taking a break from 1990 - 2003 a reformed Was (not Was) released 2008's Boo! featuring Kris Kristofferson.  Not too bad for a relatively obscure band, known for 1 top ten single and only 5 albums.  But that's what you get when you partner funk, rock, disco, and pepper it with social commentary.  It is a recipe for attention if not success.  Plus, I'm sure those guest artists got paid.

During their hiatus as a band, many things other than cars passed by....especially in 1993

Yes, 1993 was 25 years ago!!!  So...do you remember where you might have been just a little over 25 years ago?  Our family was about to make a move that would mean finally settling in one spot after having moved 9 times the first 10 years we were married.  Bill Clinton was president.  The first World Trade Center bombing occurred in January.  The Waco standoff occurred in April. And to kick off the summer with a roar was the June movie that would launch a franchise that is still trampling its competition today.  

Welcome to Jurassic Park!!

Jurassic Park - trailer

Flash forward 25 years.  Miami Vice is no longer on television, but those dinosaurs keep terrorizing a new generation of moviegoers...open the door get on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur!  

Welcome to Jurassic World!!!

Jurassic World 2 - Fallen Kingdom - trailer

And yes, I have seen all of the movies.  Although I saw the Jurassic Park trilogy much later than its release in the comfort of my living room.  Jurassic World, on the other hand, I have seen in the theater, which one should when walking their dinosaur to make sure you get the full effect.  My personal opinion is that both films are an enjoyable escape, which is the reason I go see a movie, well that and the popcorn!!!

The dinos will walk again in your neighborhood cineplex sometime in the near future as Jurassic World 3 is already in the planning stages...as Solomon wrote, "there is nothing new under the sun" - Ecclesiastes 1 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel

For hundreds of years, man has attempted to explain the existence and the extinction of dinosaurs.  Some scientists equate their existence to an era around the 65 million year range of earth's history.  Others, find evidence that the earth itself is much younger and equate dinosaurs roaming of the earth in the 5000-6000 years ago range.  Even more astounding is the fact that these same "Young Earth" scientists suggest that man lived right alongside dinosaurs during this time.  Does that mean that early mankind literally opened the door, got on the floor and walked the dinosaur?  Boom, boom, acka lacka, boom, boom.  Sorry just felt obvious...

Let's unpack this from a Tuesday's Musical Notes perspective, shall we?  First and foremost, Tuesday's Musical Notes believes the Word of God, the Bible.  Given this, the "Young Earth" statements make much more sense to me.  If God created everything, that would include dinosaurs, why wouldn't we believe what His Word has to say about His creation? 

What?!!?  The Bible talks about Dinosaurs...you betcha!  Let's see what the Word of God says about them.

Job 40 NIV/The Message/ESV 

Now, remember, regardless of where your translation or paraphrase may place the Book of Job in the Bible, it is one of the earliest stories to take place in the Bible.  Here is an interesting article that has some suggestions as to where the events of Job transpired.  When is Job on the Bible Timeline? - from amazingbibletimeline.com - April 29, 2013

Regardless of when Job's story Was(not Was), God provides Job with perspective on who He (God) is and what He (God) has done in relation to who he (Job) is including the description of the behemoth beginning in verse 15.  That description from Job sure sounds like some of the more mellow creatures we see in the Jurassic movies and as replicated skeletons in museums.  

How about Genesis 1 NIV/The Message/ESV?  Would the animals created in this text not include Job's behemoth or the Leviathan described in Job 41 NIV/The Message/ESV and Psalm 104 NIV/The Message/ESV where the Psalmist is praising God for His creations including the Leviathan.  (Ever heard of dragon lore or sea serpent legends?)

You may be thinking, "Right, that is a fantastical way of explaining dinosaurs.  But what if I don't believe the Biblical narrative?" 

 

Fair enough.  

Would you believe a group of scientists whose sole purpose is to "rely on the advice, wisdom, and review of the very best international scientists available, including leading geologists, geneticists, astronomers, paleontologists, and theologians. The majority of these professionals have no official association with AiG (Answers In Genesis, emphasis mine), except a common desire to develop the most excellent information and materials possible, to honor Christ, to advance the church, and to further the growing community spirit of Christian scientists who love God’s Word."  Would that be authoritative enough?  If so, check out Answers in Genesis' entire litany of articles, videos, and publications dedicated to dinosaurs here:  Dinosaurs - answersingenesis.org

So dear friend, dinosaur existence is a matter of faith.  Yup!  Faith.  "Boom, boom, acka, lacka, lacka, boom!"  

Your belief either extends through the evidence of the "Old Earth" body of scientists (65 million + years existence) who base their "facts" on theories or "Young Earth" advocates who find their truth from the Bible and utilize it to support their science. 

Which of these do you think requires a larger faith?

"Open the door get on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur!"

Do your own research.  Find a variety of sources about dinosaurs from both belief spectrum.  Then decide for yourself.  I think you will see that science goes a very long way to support the Biblical narrative, not just about dinosaurs but about many of the fascinating things in our world.  It has been said that pure science can never support the Bible.  I disagree.  In fact, I believe the conflict between science and the Bible really is one contrived by man and if you read the creation account in Genesis you see very quickly how reliable man can be.  

"Boom, boom, acka lacka, boom boom..."

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Isn't it Time" (The Babys)

It's Tuesday!!!  Time for a tantalizing treat of tunes with a twist!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes that time of the week where the rhythms are memorable and the review is meaningful.  Well, at least meaningful is a goal....  Thanks for stopping by!  

Tuesday's Musical Notes exists for the purpose of combining some of my favorite songs with a perspective that you won't get about popular music anywhere else.  It is the combination of my passion for all things musical with the One thing spiritual that matters in my life.  I guess you could say that our objective is, "come for the lyrics, leave with a life change!"  Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where we really just have one question for you today..."Isn't it time?"

"Isn't it Time" by The Babys from the 1977 album Broken Heart

Ok, I confess it....I'm a sucker for a horn lick and today's song has a couple of great ones!  The artists who played however are not credited.  More than likely great studio musicians of the age who added their talent to many recordings across all genre.  If you add to those horns the backing vocals of the Babettes (Lisa Freeman-Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson from Andre Crouch and the Disciples) and the band The Babys you get the #13 hit  "Isn't it Time".  

We visited some about lead singer John Waite last week in The Notes as we interpreted his #1 smash "Missing You" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Missing You").  Consisting of Waite, bass, and vocals, Michael Corby, keyboards/guitars, Tony Brock, drums, and Wally Stocker, guitars, The Babys began their existence as a band in 1977.    

The Babys saw some success upon their eponymous initial record release, but it was their sophomore album that would bring international recognition on the strength of "Isn't It Time".  As happens when success occurs, the band began feeling the strains that recognition brings.  Band member roulette began and continued until the band decided isn't it time to make a change.  I guess they found themselves pondering...."(Sitting here all alone) Just trying to decide (Whether to go all alone) Or stay by your side"  In  1980 The Babys ceased.  "Isn't it Time" would be their highest charting single. The Babys reformed in 2013 with original band members Wally Stocker and Tony Brock and began touring and making new music.   The legacy of The Babys would continue to live on in between 1980 and 2013 as former band members joined other rock and roll acts such as Journey, Rod Stewart's touring band, and Styx.  

"Isn't it time" is a question I have been asking myself a lot lately.  I heard today's song recently on Sirius XM'x 70 on 7 and it caused me to ponder some questions that keep going through my mind.  For example, isn't it time that I am more overt about who I am as a follower of Jesus?  Isn't it time that I become fully committed to being like the person I say I follow?  

Isn't it time for me to do what Jesus commanded...go spread the Gospel (good news about Jesus) and invest in others so they can go spread the Gospel and invest in others...and so on?  

Isn't it time that the focus of The Notes is on how to become a believer?  

Isn't it time that I see others as Jesus sees them?  

Isn't it time that I stop using sarcasm at the expense of others to get a laugh?  

Isn't it time I read my Bible more consistently?  

Isn't it time that I just stop some of my busyness and sit still allowing Holy Spirit to pierce the distractions that seem to overtake my life?  

Isn't it time?

So here goes...

Tuesday's Musical Notes believes that the Bible is truth.  It is the words of God to man.  With that premise in mind, The Notes contends that God created EVERYTHING.  Following that logic, God created man.  The Bible says that God created man in His own image.  This means we have a spirit that will exist long after our physical bodies cease to function.  The Bible says that God created man so He could have a relationship with man.  God didn't do this because He was lonely.  He did it for our benefit.  He created us for the express purpose of being able to KNOW WHO HE IS.  

Isn't it time?

Adam and Eve were the first folks on earth.  They were in a perfect place known as Eden.  God gave them 1 direction.  God gave them 1 instruction.  God gave them 1 thing that they had to be obedient about.  Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Remember there were two trees.  The Bible doesn't say that they could not eat of the Tree of Life.  But they chose to be rebellious and eat of the one thing in the garden that would bring about death.  THEY CHOSE.  Genesis chapters 1-3 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible

Isn't it time?

As God entered into the act of creation, He knew that the man He would create would disobey.  God knows everything there is to know.  While that is difficult for our comprehension, it is no less truth.  Because He knew of the disobedience, He planned for a means of escape from the death that He knew Adam would bring.  From the creation of the earth, Jesus was the solution to sin.  Jesus was the restorer of the relationship.  Jesus was the answer to the question the question that keeps going through my mind.  1 Peter chapter 1 NIV/The Message/ESV

Isn't it time?

Our separation from God had to be reconciled.  Fast forward from the garden to a hillside.  Roman centurions are carrying out the cruelest form of death penalty ever inflicted upon mankind.   Three men were hanging from crosses.  2 were convicted criminals, the other was Jesus.  The same Jesus who was present at the creation.  The same Jesus who was the reconciliation.  He died as the sacrifice or replacement for you and I.  He died to circumvent the disconnect.  The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew chapter 27 NIV/The Message/ESV

Isn't it time?

Not only did He die for our sins,  He went into a tomb, and was in the earth for three days.  On that third day, it was discovered that He was no longer in the tomb.   The entrance to the tomb that had been sealed and blocked was now unsealed and open.  Jesus was not there! He had come back to life!!!  The Bible says that Jesus was resurrected and He, in physical form,  was later seen by over 500 people.  The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Luke chapter 24 NIV/The Message/ESV

Isn't it time?

Jesus resurrection proved that there is more to this life.  There is a hereafter.  Jesus was the sacrifice to restore the separation that exists between God and man.  Jesus is the answer to the questions.  Jesus can provide a warmth in your heart and your soul that you never knew.  Through God in the form of Holy Spirit, you can feel that warmth and have the assurance that your relationship with God is restored forever.   All you have to do is believe what the Bible says about Him.  It is all TRUE!    The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John chapter 14 NIV/The Message/ESV

Hey Babe, Isn't it Time?

Jesus' discple Paul's 2 letter to the Corinthian church, chapter 6, verses 1-10 NIV/The Message/ESV

Isn't it time? There's no time to wait.  Losing this love could be your mistake...

Isn't it time?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by Serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Missing You" (John Waite/Alison Krauss)

Good day!  Felicitous Salutations!  Top 'O the mornin' to ya!!  Howdy!  Hey there! 

No matter how you say it, welcome to Tuesday!  It's time for your weekly "Skip to my Lou" through the annals of popular music history with a bit of "seasoning" to flavor the tunes that we all know and love.   Surgeon Generals Warning: Reading Tuesday's Musical Notes may make us all have a "things that make us go hmm..." moment of pondering.  You may now return to your regular broadcast...

It's Tuesday's Musical Notes, coming to you from the palatial 2nd story offices of your humble blogger and resident missionary musicologist. We hope that you enjoy your weekly heart string pulling down memory lane.  Missed a Tuesday!  No worries every week of Tuesday's Musical Notes has been preserved for posterity in our archives.  You can scroll down the monthly list or search by song or artist to see what you've missed.  

Yup, The Notes is published every week!!!  What?   Didn't you know that?  No wonder we've been missing you...

"Missing You" by John Waite from the 1984 album No Brakes

or for those of you who like both kinds of music, Country and Western...

"Missing You" by Alison Krauss and John Waite from Alison Krauss' 2007 album, A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection AND John Waite's Downtown: Journey of a Heart

John Waite came to the attention of music lovers as the lead vocalist/bassist for the band The Babys in the late 70's.  ("Isn't it Time" and "Every Time I Think of You" (both of which peaked at #13 and coincidentally, "Every Time I Think of You is "the first line of today's feature song)  

5 albums later, he went on to debut his solo effort Ignition, garnering some critical acclaim, and having 2 singles that hit the charts.  International attention would come at the release of his 2nd album, No Brakes which features his only #1 song, "Missing You".   He has 10 solo projects to his credit, the latest being 2011's Rough & Tumble.  

Waite's #1 hit "Missing You" is a lesson in the ironic. Don'tcha think?  After the breakup with the love of his life, he proclaims that he never misses her all the while, his heart breaks as he continues to pine for the relationship.  The video, which had a steady rotation when MTV actually played music videos, is a lesson in being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Poor Mr. Waite...his true love was right there and he couldn't hear her because he was listening and singing his song about not missing her... The lesson here...timing is everything.

I am positive that you have heard the phrase "Time is short".  Not to be morose, but have you ever really give that statement much thought?  I confess, the more "seasoned" I become, the more I contemplate how the time that I have left is spent. Life expectancy on the earth is between 70-80 years.  Your life expectancy is determined by many factors, one of which is where you live.  Here's an interesting article about that particular aspect of life expectancy:  "Life Expectancy by Country" - wikipedia.org

With only having an average of 80 years, one would think we would attempt to have a larger impact on our world given the time we have.  Let's face it, 80 years in the scope of history is very small  if you accept (and we here at The Notes do) the Biblical account of the universe existing for only about 6,000 years ("Age of the Earth" articles from answersingenesis.org) Imagine the microscopic speck your life would be on the timeline if you accept the GO-zillion year model of earth's existence to which some scientists ascribe.    It boggles the mind...

Regardless of your "earth-age" leanings, our lives are not very long.  We really should make the most of them.  One of my favorite Bible characters was King David.  He was not perfect.  In fact, he was a murderous, lust-filled adulterer, but God used him to be one of the most beloved kings in Israel's history and an ancestor to Jesus.  The New Testament says this about David, "Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;" (Acts 13:36 New International Version of the Bible) Let me provide some context.  Paul had been asked by the leaders of the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (a village spread over 7 hills in modern eastern Turkey) to speak.  He began by describing Israel's history in relation to the coming of Jesus, who as a result of His resurrection saw no death or decay to His body.  Paul was relating that Jesus was alive, unlike David, Israel's most revered king, who served his purpose for his generation, died, and his body decayed.  Paul was attempting to encourage the Jews and some non-Jews who worshiped God to revere Jesus far more than they did David and to believe the Gospel regarding His life and return.  

Our point today, however, is how Paul described the impact that David's life had.  Paul says that the underscore to David's living was that "he fulfilled his purpose for his generation" (emphasis mine).  This statement would lead me to believe that David was motivated to spend every moment of his life and expend every ounce of energy he had towards doing God's will for his life.  Did David mess up?  Many times.  Did David give up?  Not according to the account of his life in the Bible.  David's example begs the question for you and me?  Are we fulfilling our purpose for our generation?  What kind of influence do you have on your world?  

How do you guarantee that you have maximized your influence and fulfilled your purpose on your generation?  According to Jesus, "Love God and then love others as much as you do yourself" (The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew, chapter 22, verses 37-39 NIV/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel)  Jesus called these 2 ways of living, the Greatest Commandments.  

Jesus also called us to turn away from the wrong things we do.  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!" (Matthew 4:17 NIV)  This same mantra is echoed by Jesus' disciple Peter in his message of Acts 3 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (read Peter's message in its entirety here:  Acts of the Apostles chapter 3 NIV/The Message/ESV)  You see one of the benefits of turning from your wrong and doing God's right is refreshing from God.  

So dear friend, what is the best way to spend your "moment" on the timeline of history?  Believe that Jesus was who He said He was and did what the Bible says He did and will do.  Repent of your wrong, embracing God's right.  Allow Jesus to have the authority in your life.  By doing this you show that you love God.  (The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John, chapter 14 NIV/The Message/ESV)  Tell others about your love for God, His love for them, and love them like you do yourself.  By doing this you ensure that you are fulfilling your purpose.  These things enable you to have influence in your generation.  And at the end of your existence, folks will have a reason to be...missing you... without any irony...

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Big Time" (Peter Gabriel)

Wow!!!  Just wow!  Today I start with a very humbled heart as last month, Tuesday's Musical Notes hit 2 major milestones!  First of all, we just passed the 6th anniversary of Tuesdays together in the digital world known as the blog zone.  Secondly, we had the highest "click on the blog" count in the history of The Notes!  For us, it was really a BIG TIME number!!!  Thank you so much for checking in from week to week!  We do not take it for granted.  

Here as a reminder, and just in case you haven't read it is our first entry into the world of blogging, taken from May 31, 2012, as a way of saying thanks for the past 6 years and telling folks about your favorite blog...

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Alright"

Tuesday's Musical Notes began as a worship arts submission to our church's newsletter.  That inspiration served as the springboard to begin sending emails to like-minded, creative, music lovers who enjoyed our special brand of wit, sense of humor, and illumination.   Basically set up as a blog that brought together favorite music with The Greatest Story Ever Told. With encouragement from one of those email friends (thanks Heath!!!), we launched the blog that thousands have discovered.  We've learned much about music and The Master in our time together and I hope that you've found yourself transformed for having been here.  A few subtle things are different, but we really haven't changed the format to The Notes since its inception.  Thanks again!!!

Since January 2015, we have made an effort to reprint most of the emails that never made it to the blog.  Today's edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes is another example of those emails.  We hope you enjoy it!!! 

Hi there!!!....... It's Tuesday and time for the Notes!!!!!   (do you hear applause?)

So.....you spend 25 years in one of Britain's most popular Rock-N-Roll acts,  you go solo and after 4 albums you get a #1 single that knocks off your former band's #1,  and your #1 hit turns into the most played video ever on MTV (do they even still play videos?).....if you were Peter Gabriel, you might say at this point in your life, you've hit the "Big Time".

Peter Gabriel was a founding member of one of my favorite bands.....Genesis.  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Follow You, Follow Me", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Misunderstanding", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No Reply at All")  Many people think Phil Collins was the lead singer and while most of Genesis' hits came with his vocals, it was Peter Gabriel who established the band with his trademark stage presence and powerful musical savvy.   

Gabriel had been involved in music as a child due to his mother's insistence that he learn the clarinet.  He furthered his education in the music industry by starting a band. In 1967, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford (Mike and the Mechanics (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "All I Need is a Miracle")), Anthony Phillips, Chris Stewart, and Peter Gabriel started at the beginning.....Genesis.  The band was known for the costuming of Gabriel who would use flamboyant attire as a means of distracting the crowd while the rest of the band were tuning and making sound equipment adjustments during the breaks between songs.  For the first several years, the band was critically and commercially successful, but only in the UK.  

Peter Gabriel left Genesis after touring in support of 1974's The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway   His success as a solo artist, as so many successes of the late 1970s and early 1980s would come at the hand of the exposure provided by, and creativity of, an invention called the music video.  For Gabriel, MTV helped him become so much larger than life...

Cue the claymation, Mr. VJ...

"Big Time" by Peter Gabriel from the 1986 album So

"Big Time" was the #8 follow-up to 1986's #1 hit, "Sledgehammer".   Singer, Peter Gabriel was huge in the 80's.  His first four albums were all called Peter Gabriel and had some modicum of success (they are recognized by fans by the album covers artwork (Car (1977), Scratch (1978), Melt (1980), and Security (1982)).   It was His 1986 album, So, that brought Gabriel into the Big Time as it soared up the charts and has since gone 5 times platinum.  

Over his career, Peter Gabriel has won 6 Grammys.  In the 90's he received 3 Grammy awards for his continued pioneering in the music video categories, however, his musical popularity waned during this time period as he became more involved in worldwide causes and activism.  He has continued to stay musically busy by experimenting with a variety of world music genres.  His last reported tour was the Rock Paper Scissors Tour with Sting in 2016.  His last album was 2011's New Blood a collection of his previous work put together with a full orchestra.  In this instance, I guess his band was getting bigger...

The Old Testament is filled with examples of men and some women who thought they had hit the "Big Time".  The history of the nation of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament is a roller coaster ride of restoration with God and then after time, a rejection of God.  It is easy to be critical of the Israelites when we read their story in the Bible. We ponder the question, "How could they turn their backs on God when He had blessed them so much?"  Israel's problem may have had less to do with ungrateful hearts than it did with prideful spirits.  They began to believe the lie from the enemy that THEY were the ones who were responsible for their blessings.  When they had finally reached the "Big Time", they weren't humble.  Jesus says in Matthew 23:12 - "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."  God followed through on this promise in the lives of the Israelite nation and continues to do so in the lives of Christians today. 

Our blessings are all from God.  He says it best through Zechariah's writings: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty."  (Zechariah 4:6b NIV) God was in the process of re-educating Zerubbabel to His ways.  He was reminding Zerubbabel that there were no armies or powers in the world that would stop the Word of the Lord.  He was reassuring Zerubabbel that the temple foundation that he had built would continue to be built upon and the temple would be completed.  

Does today's church need this reminder as well?  What is our reaction as Christian fellowships and individuals, when God exalts us for being humble?  Do we stay humble as we love others in the following ways?  

Are we building relationships with pre-Christians?  

Are we making disciples of Jesus out of each other and aiding in the maturation process of Christians around us?  

Are we maturing as Christians into the likeness of Christ? 

Are we building on the foundation that was laid by our predecessors to ensure this generation of souls is told the Gospel?  

God has blessed us so we can be humble servants.  His blessings will continue to flow as we serve others. The Bible says that God promises He won't put on us more than we can bear.  Perhaps this applies to blessings as well. 

I guess the main question is.......How do we react if we reach the "Big Time"?

"I'm on my way I'm making it...."

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy