Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Connection" (Elastica)



Welcome to the last Tuesday of March, first Tuesday of Spring, and to Tuesday's Musical Notes, where the music ranges from classical to commercial and the message waffles between "hmmm..." and earth shattering!  

Today we journey back in time with the aid of the 1.21 gigawatts infused Notesmobile to a grungy sort of land (did you know that O'Reilly Auto Parts carries this? O'Reilly Auto Parts - part 121g).  As we roll the windows down we quickly hear the cacophony of sounds.  Swing mixes with Ska, ladies singing lead vocals, and in the distance, if you listen closely...what's that sound?  Is that Gregorian Chant? ("Compilation of Chants" from the October 17, 1995 album Chants II by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos ) 

I guess we have arrived in a land where anything can become a hit regardless of its musical sound.  It certainly is an "alternative" to what has come before.  But there is something catchy about this sound.  There is no doubt that a "connection is made"...


With the release of Marvel Studios - Captain Marvel, there is a fascination with all things 90's.  Especially the music.  Why wouldn't there be? We are on the edge of a new decade that will see the year 1990 as 30 years in its past. Ok, go back and read that one again...30 years.  YIKES!!! That's ancient history to 2019's teenage lot. Yes, that makes today's song officially a "golden oldie".     

Along with a scene that includes the actual last Blockbuster in existence, Captain Marvel did a good job of gathering an iPod full of 90's popular music.  Complete with chart toppers and a few lesser known 90's hits, watching this movie is like opening a video time capsule and quickly recalling what that the decade of the 90s meant in your life.  Well, at least for those of us who were ALIVE during the 90s.

One of the lesser-known songs used to flavor the movie is today's #53 hit from the Britpop band Elastica.  "Connection" was released as a single prior to the full-length album being released.  The single's popularity assisted in the album setting a record for the fastest selling debut since Oasis' Definitely Maybe the previous year. It also aided Elastica to be one of two 90s British Invasion bands (Radiohead being the other) to actually make a mark in the United States.  

"Connection" remained broiled in controversy as portions of it seemed to have been "lifted" from other bands work.  Lawsuits were settled out of court, but the group, after continual touring and membership shakeups, would disband in 2001 with 2 studio album releases and an EP.  It would seem that perhaps a vital connection was not made...

We have written many times in this past year about Holy Spirit.  We have told you about how He is one part of the Trinity that makes up God. (God, the Father, God, the Son (Jesus), and God, the Holy Spirit)  We've discussed how it is His job to draw people to Himself to restore our connection to God through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  

We've even suggested that Holy Spirit isn't a topic that many preachers and disciples of Jesus want to talk about, because His ministry is somewhat more difficult to understand.  After all, while He was present at creation, God, the Father takes center stage during that event.  While He was certainly present during the transformation of the disciples, Jesus physical life as a man took preeminence over what Holy Spirit was doing in the background.  This is how it should be as the tangible and physical should always take dominance over ideologies, beliefs, and even digital manifestations of things (you can't really touch a download...am I right?)

Holy Spirit is also the way that mankind communicates with God.  You see my friend, God is Holy.  We cannot come into direct contact with God because we just couldn't handle it. Psalm 99:1-5 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel 

Jesus is currently with God preparing a place for believers to reside at the beginning of eternity future.  The Gospel of Jesus according to His disciple John, chapter 14, verse 1-15 NASB/The Message/KJV  The next two verses of John 14 is what we really want you to hone into today.  Let's look:  John 14:16-17 NASB/The Message/KJV  Here Jesus tells His disciples and us that He will send Holy Spirit to be our helper.  Jesus' promise is that Holy Spirit will dwell with our spirit as Jesus had dwelt with the disciples during His three years of ministry on earth.  For those who believe Jesus was who He said He was and did what He said He did, Jesus promises that the Helper, who is as powerful as Jesus is, will dwell within the spirit of believers.  That's a kind of connection that cannot be broken, taken away, or destroyed.  

The apostle Paul elaborates even more about Holy Spirit's connection with the spirit of believers:

Did you catch verses 9-11?  Eugene Peterson's The Message paraphrases the passage this way:  

But if God Himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of Him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome Him, in whom He dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to Himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and He does, as surely as He did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With His Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!

I don't know about you, but I've never considered Holy Spirit's work quite that way.  That means dear friend, that every day of our lives we can live in joy, boldness, and victory as our spirit connects with Holy Spirit more and more every day.  Transforming us more into the likeness of Jesus.  If only believers would grasp this truth...

I don't begin to understand how this is completed, but somehow the vital connection is made and I trust the One who says it is and will be complete at the day that I see Him.  

Have you made that vital connection?  Are you ready for your heart to make the trade?  Holy Spirit is waiting to ensure your vital connection is made...   

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy



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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles)




Welcome to Tuesday!  Its time to once again venture down the pathway to enlightenment while another great song serves as the soundtrack to our journey.  Its Tuesday and there is much to celebrate!  We made it passed the Ides of March and celebrated everything Irish as we observed the wearin' O' the green!  It seems the death grip that winter had on some of the world is finally loosening!!  And here in Arkansas, the rain has finally acquiesced its falling and the temperatures have agreed to begin rising. 

Welcome to one of the best times of the year on the best day of the week at the best blog (at least in some of your minds)  in the internetosphere!  It's Tuesday!  Time for Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

It's the 3rd Tuesday of the 3rd month of the 2019th year and today we feature a song from an album that joins many iconic records in having their 50th anniversary this year.  (50 Years Later - How 1969 Changed Rock Music Forever And How It May Propel 2019 Album Sales, forbes.com article by Jim Amos on March 13, 2019)  

Today's song also marks the 10th appearance of the boys from Liverpool here on the Tuesday's Musical Notes stage! Just in case you missed any of these classic reimaginations:


So...little darlin' I think it's time we start some bloggin... Little darlin', it feels like years since we've been here...doo doo doo doo


George Harrison (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Got My Mind Set on You") immediately became equal to John Lennon and Paul McCartney with regards to songwriting prowess when it came to The Beatles last studio album, Abbey Road.  His contributions of "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" highlighted his ability to write music and secured his place in post-Beatles success.  

"Here Comes the Sun" was never released as a single by The Beatles but has a lasting legacy as seen by its covers and continued use in entertainment.  Written at Eric Clapton's country home while Harrison was ditching a meeting with Apple Records executives, "Here Comes the Sun" features Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Producer George Martin's orchestrations.  John Lennon was absent from the recording session as he was recuperating from an automobile accident.  

"Here Comes the Sun" reflects the relief that Harrison was feeling as he finally was seeing an upturn in his personal life.  Early 1969 had seen him quit The Beatles temporarily, get arrested for marijuana possession and have his tonsils removed.   It certainly seems like he was overdue for a little sunshine in his life!

"Here Comes the Sun" hit the charts only after Beatle's tracks were released to Apple's (the OTHER Apple) iTunes, peaking at #14 on Billboards Hot Rock Songs chart in September of 2017.

The one good thing from the accursed time change is that this time of the year brings some of the most prolific daybreaks imaginable.  Spring officially arrives this week and early risers are immersed in the multitude of colors as the dawn breaks with each new day.  Scientists would explain this breathtaking aroura as the bending of light through the atmosphere.  (Never mistake these scientists with poets!)  Other scientists would elaborate on the benefits to the earth of the suns rays and warmth.  (Zzzz...) 

On the other end of the spectrum, there are some writers of literature that would analyze the sun in a much different way... "I feel that ice is slowly melting..."

These writers would tell you of how the sun, from the moment of its initial rising (Genesis 1:3-5 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel),  has set an incredible testimony of praise to its Creator!   Psalm 148 NASB/The Message/KJV  They would also tell you of how we are to join in with elements of creation in praising God during our waking moments.  Psalm 113:1-4 NASB/The Message/KJV  

Even earlier writers would speak of how the sun stood still for an entire day so that its Creator's people could be avenged.  Joshua 10:1-14 NASB/The Message/KJV

Much later we read 3 accounts from different men who detail how the sun's Creator caused it to go dark from noon until 3 pm during the most incredible moment of mankind's history.  


This event is the determining factor by which folks can restore the broken relationship with God, the Creator of the sun.  God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice, a substitute, for us.  Jesus suffered the most horrific form of capital punishment ever created so that we might be able to stand before God someday without shame or guilt.  Jesus did this willingly.  He did it because His desire is to have a restored relationship with each of us.  Our part?  We must admit that we can't restore our relationship with God.  Our "bad stuff", "rebellion", or sin, keeps us from being restored.  There is a price to be paid for our rebellion that we can never satisfy.  However, If we believe what the Bible says about Jesus (He is God, He came to earth via virgin birth, He lived among the folks of His area, He died as the restorative sacrifice in our place, He was placed in a sealed tomb for 3 days, He was alive and seen by many of the folks in His area after those 3 days, that He ascended to be with God, making a place for those who believe in Him, and that He is returning as Redeemer of the church and Judge over all of the folks of the world) the Bible promises that we will be saved from judgment and restored to God as an adopted child.  Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces...

The "darkness" during the crucifixion of Jesus, would harken back to the 9th plague during the time of Exodus.  Moses, the earliest known writer of the Bible, describes this darkness as one that could even be felt.  Exodus 10:21-23 NASB/The Message/KJV   

One of the last writers of the Bible, Jude, describes darkness that lasts forever for those who do not believe in Jesus.  Jude NASB/The Message/KJV

There is a means of escape from this darkness.  Jesus is His name.  He is the Way to a restored relationship with God, the creator of all things including the sun.  Jesus is the Truth of all things.  Jesus is the life that will last forever and ever.  There is coming a time when you will behold your last sunrise.  When that time comes, will you continue to be in the Light of God after that sun rises, or will you be separated from God and His light for eternity future?  

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...and for believers...I say it's alright...   

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Reelin' in the Years" (Steely Dan)




Good Tuesday to ya friend!!!  Here's hoping that the road is risin' up to meet you and the wind is in your sails!!!  It's the first Tuesday of March and we're off on another adventure down the piano to forte' pathway of enlightenment called Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  That's right, friend!  Today, you have the opportunity to experience the weekly embrace of musical introspection that is The Notes!  Today, you get to explore a song in a manner that has never been attempted!! Today you get to see what a piano to forte' pathway looks like, all wrapped up in a blog that is read by... thousands...hundreds...well, several people anyway.  So, let's quit stowin' away the time, 'cause it's Tuesday and it's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! 


That's Steely Dan with their #11 smash hit from their debut album!  We haven't heard from Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in quite a while.  In fact, it's been 6 years since we brought Steely Dan into the Tuesday's Musical Notes family.  That introduction came in a "twisted" way on  July 9, 2013:


Like "Pretzel Logic", and so many of Steely Dan's songs, "Reelin' in the Years" is very much an introspective song.  It hit the pop singles chart in 1973 and is the second single from Can't Buy a Thrill album.  Readers of Guitar World Magazine ranked Elliot Randall's guitar solo as the 40th best of all time.  Not too bad for a studio musician who was never an official Steely Dan member but played on three of their nine studio albums, as well as a host of other well known artists records.  

The song has become a staple on classic rock radio, some would say its popularity now is even better than when it charted.  "Reelin' in the Years" was also prominently featured on the soundtrack of my favorite movie about baseball, Kevin Costner's For Love of the Game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGvaaRufU2Y

"Reelin' in the Years" posits several questions, the most prominent being "are you reelin' in the years, stowin' away the time?"  While the song is directing the question towards a broken relationship, this is a question that everyone ponders from time to time.  Have we lived a full life up to this point?  Are we moving forward or are we living in the nostalgia of our past, which is always seems better than the reality of our past? Are we attempting to maximize our time so we've lived our best life? Have we had enough tears, especially our own? 

The Creator of time has much to say on these subjects:







In "Reelin' in the Years", Steely Dan also confesses to not understanding a few things about the person to which the relationship is ending.  They convey they don't understand what the person considered precious, what the person passes for knowledge, and what is deemed useless by their former love.  

We live in a world of things we don't understand.  Even today, one man's trash is another man's treasure.  The things they teach as knowledge in high school and colleges...well, speak for themselves (ever heard of Common Core?)  While they may be enjoyable classes to take, they are lacking in preparing students to take on the challenges of a world that is ready to devour them intellectually and otherwise.  Entire populations of people are considered useless as dictators continue to commit genocide around the world.  These are all things that are hard for me to understand, how about you?

Our perfect guide to life, the Bible, does provide some simple advice.  From The Message paraphrase of the wisest man to ever live, Solomon:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this.  - Proverbs 3:5-12 The Message paraphrase

Far too many times we attempt to have understanding by our finite minds.  True understanding of ANY situation can only come from the God who created us and knew us in the womb.  Comprehension of the machinations of this world can only be seen through the lenses of the God who holds EVERYONE as useful and full of purpose.  Cognizance of the situations we encounter DAILY can only be attained through study of the guidebook that God has written for our consumption.  

In this world, we won't understand everything.  A restored relationship to God, through Jesus, His Son, however, allows us to navigate the understood things of this world by His peace that passes all understanding.  

AND it does help the everlasting summer not fade away so fast...
When you grab THAT kind of something, you can know it's gonna last...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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