Welcome to Tuesday it's time they did say! The daylight hours they are drifting away! It is time for a new thing they're all talking about. New faces, new friends, and new achievements to flout. The bands they are marching, the teams they go fast. The teachers are starching their clothes so they'll last. Books that laid dormant, are now covers open. As students find ways to start the year hopin'. Hopin' for good grades, great teachers, and much fun. Hopin' that they can do the work to be done. Hats off to the folks in clinics of learning. We know the late hours the candles your burning. We know that it seems your herding some cats. We just pray that they don't drive you all the way bats. So here's to you students and teachers we say. "We're praying for you, we pray for each day". It's Tuesday in August not quite meter rule, we ask you today..."won't you take me back to school?"
The Moody Blues most recent studio album is 2003's December. Their most recent tour came in 2015. And after over 50 years of touring, making albums and inspiring millions, they were a part of 2018's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. It would seem that their hard work and continuing vision paid off as they continue to have fans say..."whoa won't you tell me again."
Tuesday's Musical Notes has often explored bands that "fly under the radar". They may be "one-hit wonders" that utilize one song to make a lifelong career in music (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walking on Sunshine"), or they may be bands that were started in the '60s and over the course of 50 years had 12 top 40 hits. They are not The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Prince, or other artists who seem to hum a measure and it goes straight to #1. They are the working man's bands. They have written, played, produced, and sung some incredible music that while recognizable to some, have missed many listener's ears. They are the band in which you know their music, but you may not know their name. Today's feature band is such a group...The Moody Blues.
Begun in England in 1964, The Moody Blues have created a legacy by continually recreating themselves. In '64 they began with blues covers. As they solidified as a group and added the mellotron as a main instrument, they evolved into being one of the pioneering bands of prog rock. They reinvented themselves again in the late '70s and early '80s after a reissue of the 1967 single "Nights in White Satin" went to #2 on the charts in 1972. This international popularity ignited an interest in all of the band's music, propelling them to make their most popular record to date, Long Distance Voyager, which went to #1 on the album charts and featured the top twenty singles "Gemini Dream" and today's feature song, "The Voice".
"Won't you take me back to school, I need to learn the golden rule..." I think it would be easy to say that the students are not the only ones who learn things during a school year. I have seen teachers and those who work at school say with a sense of pride as well as some awe that they never cease to be amazed at what the next generation can teach them. As students and school employees begin their annual voyage to learning, we must ask ourselves, what things will be guiding them. Certainly, the golden rule to which The Moody Blues refers, but what other factors influence those in our arena of education?
As the school year starts, "each and every heart it seems is guided by a world of dreams..." What guides those dreams?
Way before Jiminy Cricket instructed Pinnochio to "Give a Little Whistle", ("Give a Little Whistle" from the 1940 Walt Disney production Pinnochio) folks understood the idea of a conscience. dictionary.com defines conscience as: " the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action". (dictionary.com - "conscience")
As the return to school seems to bring a reset for many of us, I think we must understand that what assists us as we navigate our days is something more than allowing our conscience to be our guide and the impelling to do what's right. Doing what is right isn't enough. Let's face it, even on our best days we are flawed, and giving a little whistle doesn't always cut it. But there is someone who can help.
In many churches, the topic of Holy Spirit is one in which very little discussion is had. I find this curious because as part of the Trinity, evangelical bodies of believers claim that He is equal to God the Father, and God the Son. Over the decades His work perhaps has been misunderstood by believers. Perhaps the whole "Ghost" label is intimidating as we don't fully understand Holy Spirit's role in our lives. While Tuesday's Musical Notes is not an authority on Holy Spirit, there are some things about Him that we would like to illustrate that may very well help us navigate the Long Distance Voyage in which we find ourselves as we maneuver through this new season.
First and most importantly we must understand that Holy Spirit is equal to God and Jesus and is a part of the creative process at the beginning. Genesis 1:1-2 New International Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/English Standard Version of the Bible parallel Did you see that? God, Holy Spirit, and Jesus are all in the first two verses of the Bible.
Also, we must understand that Holy Spirit is NOT our conscience. Holy Spirit comes into our lives after we make a commitment to repenting of our sins (a daily process) and believing that Jesus was who He said He was and did what He said He did. Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2, verses 1-13 NIV/The Message/ESV The disciples had spent over 3 years in the presence of Jesus. They did not need Holy Spirit's guidance until Jesus ascended into Heaven. The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple John, chapter 16, verse 4-7 NIV/The Message/ESV
Finally, notice what Holy Spirit does in our lives. Initially, Holy Spirit brings the awareness of the separation that we have from God due to our sins. (John 16:8 NIV/The Message/ESV) Then He calls us to repent of those sins. (Paul's Letter to the Roman Church, chapter 8, verses 22-28 NIV/The Message/ESV) Finally, He transforms us every day to be more like Jesus. (Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthian Church, Chapter 3, verse 18 NIV/The Message/ESV)
So you see dear friend, each and every rising sun is greeted by a lonely one, but it doesn't have to be that way. Out of the ocean of life, my love, there's so many storms we must rise above. But we don't have to do it alone! Can you hear the Spirit calling? Understand the Voice within and feel a change already beginning. Please answer His calling!!!
The fact is that not answering the Holy Spirit's call is the only sin that cannot be forgiven. Jesus said in Matthew 12:31-32 - “There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives." The Message
Holy Spirit is saying, "How many words have I got to say, and how many times will it be this way?" To paraphrase, there is a time coming when you won't be able to say to Holy Spirit..."Oh won't you tell me again? Oh can you feel it? Oh won't you tell me again...tonight"
The one that He's calling is You!!!
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
No comments:
Post a Comment