Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Evil Ways" (Santana)

 Today on Tuesday's Musical Notes:

...Featuring Greg Rolie (keyboard and lead vocals on "Evil Ways"), a founding member of the bands Journey (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Separate Ways (World's Apart)", Abraxas Pool, and today's featured band Santana...

Cue theme music...Opening credits rolling..."Tuesday's Musical Notes"..."Written by Randy W. Cross"..."Inspired by the Best Music of All Time"...Title card up..."Today's Episode - "Evil Ways"...end theme music.

Commercial break  (Overcomer In Theaters August 23)

It all began in 1969 with the Bobo Motion, jazz percussionist's Willie Bobo's 1969 release that included the song "Evil Ways".  Written by Clarence "Sonny" Henry the song was covered and made popular by the band Santana on their eponymous debut album.  The Santana version was released in late '69 and was the band's first top 40 hit, peaking at #9 on Billboard's Hot 100. 

Cue music video in 5...4...3...2...

 "Evil Ways" by Santana - (Woodstock 1969)

Santana's incarnation began in 1966.  Formed in the San Francisco area as an instrumental "jam band", the band highlighted the guitar playing skills and last name of Carlos Santana, a dishwasher at Tick Tock's Drive-In.   The original band performed at Woodstock thus securing their place in Rock-N-Roll history.  Featuring Greg Rolie (keyboard and lead vocals on "Evil Ways"), a founding member of the bands Journey (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Separate Ways (World's Apart)", Abraxas Pool, and today's featured band Santana, this original lineup included Marcus Malone (percussion), Rod Harper (drums), and Sergio "Gus" Rodriguez (Bass) and became more popular with the releases Abraxas and Santana III.  Following Santana III, new members began to come and go with Carlos Santana currently being the only original member remaining in recording and touring status.  

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Cue lead in... "...this can't go on...Lord knows you got to change...baby"

How do you think our world rates on the "evil" scale?  I don't know about you, but things at times seem to be very bad.  However, to provide some perspective, perhaps the times aren't as bad as they were in Genesis 6:5-7 New American Standard Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel.  Here, the Bible says that "God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart."  Can you imagine some of the goings-on to make God feel that way toward His creation?  God finally says, "This can't go on...  "God was prepared to destroy His entire creation including man. (Remember 1 race, THE HUMAN RACE, everything else is melanin and culture).  

and break for commercial...

Commercial Break (Casting Crowns/Hillsong Worship/Elevation Worship/USA tour)

You see dear friend, evil is a part of the curse brought upon the world by Adam and Eve's disobedience.  It seems to ebb and flow like all things.  What causes the change in evil's presence?  I think it is the fact that mankind continues to fight against it.  Yes, there are moral standards that most folks live by.  While the upholding of those standards does make a difference, it is repentance from our own evil ways that stem the tide of evil.  When we embrace God's forgiveness through repenting of the wrongdoing/disobedience/rebellion against God that we perpetrate we defeat the enemy and evil.  We push back on the nature that Adam and Eve's rule-breaking brought into this world and we push towards the perfection of heaven we will one day attain.  

Repentance is not a one-time practice however, because we are in a constant struggle with our nature as it faces temptations. Paul calls this "working out your salvation" in  Philippians 2:12-13 NASB/The Message/KJV   As we win this battle daily and encourage others in their battles, we see evil diminish in our lives, society, and world.  Our surge of repentance forces back the enemies ability to promote evil in our land.  We must be vigilant, consistent, and without ceasing in our repentance, begging God to forgive us.  

You may be wondering if repentance gets you to heaven.  Nope!  Believing Jesus died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, believing he came back to life after 3 days, believing that He is with God now petitioning on your behalf, and turning from self-authority to God authority in your life through repentance does get you into heaven.  It's up to you.  Will you be a person who promotes evil by spurning the advances of Holy Spirit, or will you surrender today to God's ownership of your life through Jesus and be a part of turning the tide of evil in our generation?  The choice is yours.  "You've got to change, baby, and every word I say is true..."

So what happened when God planned to destroy the earth? Since we are currently in existence, God must not have eradicated ALL of mankind or creatures.  What did He decide to do? More of that story in the episode:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rock the Boat"  

cue closing theme...roll end credits...""Tuesday's Musical Notes" is a product of the combination of Biblical study and the imagination of its writers"... "It seeks to bring the passions of music and God's message together in a unique way to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation to those who believe"...""Tuesday's Musical Notes" is produced by Crossgate Entertainment and written by Randy W. Cross"..."No animals were harmed in the production of this broadcast"...

(C) 2019 Tuesday's Musical Notes

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'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Let 'Em In" (Wings)

Hi, there and greetings!  For what do you seek?  A blog, perhaps, to read every week?  There's one that we know of and can recommend.  It's one once you read it you'll share with a friend.  There are rhymes with a reason and tunes with the truth!  Just read it you'll find, it's not long in the tooth!  It comes out on Tuesday a really good day.  It's the best kind of blog as you don't have to pay!  No ads that we know of, no bothersome sales.  Just fantastic music combined with a tale.  This combo we reckon you've never quite seen.  There's no blog quite like it's really quite keen.  So let's get it started, let's make it all fly.  These Wings they make music, let's give them a try...

"Let 'Em In" the July 23, 1976 single from the March 25, 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound

This #3 hit for Wings opens to the sound of the Westminster Quarters, a chime clock melody used with a set of four bells to sound each quarter-hour.  It became a gold-selling single with its lyrical listing of famous folks. That list includes relatives of Paul and Linda McCartney's (Paul's Aunt Gin, and his brother Michael, and Linda's brother John (not Lennon as many assume)) as well as timeless icons Phil and Don Everly (The Everly Brothers), reformer Martin Luther and Uncle Ernie, referring to the role that Ringo Starr played in London Symphony Orchestra's recording of The Who's Tommy. 

"Someone knockin' at the door, somebody ringin' a bell..."

Most know the account of the first recorded murder in the Bible.  It's found in Genesis 4:1-16 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel.  Cain and Abel were children of Adam and Eve.  One would imagine that Adam and Eve had told Cain and Abel stories of the grandeur of the garden and the subsequent expulsion due to their disobedience.  For some reason, these lessons from the parents didn't resonate with Cain.  (Lesson here is:  Parents do your best, pray for your children, but remember they make their own decisions!)  In this instance, both Cain and Abel brought offerings to God.  Cain was jealous of God preferring Abel's offering.  God explained to Cain the reasons why.  He even warned Cain of the danger that lurked, "sin crouching at the door", "sin lying in wait for you, ready to pounce", "sin lieth at the door".  Truly, someone was knocking on Cain's door. God also admonishes Cain to get control of this temptation before sin waltzed right on through that door and caused calamity.  

Unfortunately, Cain paid little heed to God's warning and opened the door to sin.  Cain's sin of jealousy so controlled him that he killed Abel because of it.  Now before we judge Cain too harshly for killing Abel, we must be conscientious of the sin that is knocking at OUR door.  Temptations abound all around us.  We are given the choice to open the door for that temptation to separate us from God, or take control of it and not allow sin to be a part of our lives.  We choose!!!

This is not a door we want to answer.  But sin will continue to knock, attempting to wear us down until we give in to it.  What can we do?  

 Psalm 1:1-2 NASB/The Message/KJV tells us that we can overcome the temptation to open the door to sin if we delight in the meditation of the law day and night.  If I may be so bold to translate...READ THE BIBLE!  That's right friend, a consistent reading of God's Word allows the pounding at your door to be diminished or completely eradicated.  Reading the Bible consistently will not make you perfect.  There was only one perfect man, Jesus.  But it will aid you in the time of temptation as God's Word becomes the go to for your times of struggle. 

If you are not a believer (had your relationship restored through the sacrificial blood of Jesus) there is a knocking on your door as well.  It has been beautifully depicted by the artist William Holman Hunt. 

This painting represents Revelation 3:20 NASB/The Message/KJV.  You see, dear friend, Someone is knocking at the door.  While sin is crouching waiting to burst through the door and pounce, Jesus knocks awaiting an invitation.  He knocks patiently, waiting for the door to be opened and to restore the relationship between you and God.  He will not, however, remain at your door forever.  Today is the day to open the door and let Him in.

So to whom do you open the door?  One who is wanting to come in without an invitation whose intent is to destroy you, much like what we saw with Cain, or do you open the door to One who is wanting to restore you, love you without condition, and redeem you forever as we see on the cross.  

"Someone's knockin' at the door, somebody's ringin' the bell..." To which will your door be opened?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Alive and Kicking" (Simple Minds)

Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes, the continuing epilogue to remember the greatest music of our time guided by the greatest story of all time!  The adventure awaits as we rediscover the narrative of our past with a soundtrack of melodies that are played and sung causing synapses of memory to cascade across the space between our ears.  Welcome, and thanks for reading what we hope you'll find is a blog with a drumbeat that makes a difference.

1985.  That was 34 years ago.  Seems like a long time to those who aren't that age yet. For me, it really doesn't seem that long. I suppose what I've heard from the previous generation about life going by quickly has before I realized it,  become true in my life.  I find myself in periods of reflection more often now.  Especially about the days of the '80s.  Great car, college life, beautiful girlfriend, and a legacy of parents who loved me and would do anything for me.  There were days however in this idyllic existence where I wondered..."What you gonna do when things go wrong?  What you gonna do when it all cracks up?  What you gonna do when the love burns down?  What you gonna do when the flames go up?"  34 years later, I still ask some of those questions, but I find myself...

 "Alive and Kicking" by Simple Minds from the October 21, 1985 album Once Upon a Time

The band Simple Minds has been touring and making music since 1977.  Their biggest hit came in the form of a soundtrack single, which they initially had refused to record.  After it became a mega-hit, Simple Minds still relegated the single to a greatest hits package that came out in 1992.  That song was the #1 smash Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from the 1985 soundtrack to the movie The Breakfast Club.

The success of "Don't You (Forget About Me) jettisoned the band into instant stardom and catapulted their 8th studio album all the way to #10 where it hung out for 5 weeks and spent 16 weeks in the top 20.  Once Upon a Time was buoyed by the strength of today's feature song "Alive and Kicking".

"Alive and Kicking" peaked at #3 and substantially positioned Simple Minds to be an 80's staple on radio and in concert.  

Simple Minds continues to record and tour with 2 of its original members, Jim Kerr (vocalist) and Charlie Burchill (keyboards, guitar).  Their latest album was 2018's Walk Between Worlds, and lead vocalist Jim Kerr has stated that their next studio recording will be released in 2021.  

Today's feature song raises some questions worth pondering.  "What you gonna do when things go wrong?  What you gonna do when it all cracks up?  What you gonna do when the love burns down?  What you gonna do when the flames go up?"  I don't know about you, but I have asked these questions at points in my life.  Those times may even resemble something like this:

The above painting by the Italian artist Masaccio is called The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden.  It is a graphic example of a time when two people were asking themselves "what are we going to do now that things have gone wrong?"  and it is inspired by Genesis 3:20-24 New American Standard Version of the Bible, The Message paraphrase of the Bible, King James Version of the Bible

Let's be very plain.  From the moment God called light into existence in Genesis 1, He knew what was going to happen.  He knew that redemption for creation was going to be necessary.  Adam and Eve's disobedience did not catch God by surprise and neither does the difficulty you may be experiencing at this point in your life.  No one in heaven was wringing their hands wondering, "what we gonna do when it all cracks up?".  God knew "Who's got the touch to calm the storm inside?  Who's gonna save you?"   

Adam and Eve disobeyed their one rule.  For that disobedience, they were disciplined by not being allowed to enjoy the perfection of creation any longer.  Because of that disobedience, they were removed from a life of beauty and plenty to a reality of burden and pain.  By their disobedience, they inflicted upon the world and existence that was never God's intent.  They had a taste of Eden, but the taste of the world was too strong a temptation for them to resist.  

I think to a certain extent that taste of Eden still exists in the makeup of humans.  Some have described it as a hole in our hearts.  Others as an unexplainable longing for something more.  Sadly, So much of our time is spent savoring the fare of the world's disobedience that the pining for Eden is crowded out in our hearts and minds.  

Jesus came to remedy that.  He was the plan from "Let there be light".  He came to provide a way back to Eden.  He came to redeem us from the burdens and pain of our disobedience.  He is the One who's gonna save you!.

We all have times in this fallen, imperfect world, where we implore God to provide answers to our troublesome times.  He already has through Jesus.  If we believe that Jesus was who He said He was and did what the Bible said He did, the fire of our "taste of Eden" will be fanned in ways that we can only imagine, and we can soon realize that all of our questions are answered in Jesus.   At that point, we can boldly proclaim that we are "Alive and Kicking"!!!

"Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Blame" (Collective Soul)

Welcome music fans!! Welcome aficionados of audio!  Welcome to all those who love a good rhythm!  Welcome to junkies of the jive!!!  Welcome to those who reek of rock!  It's Tuesday and time for your weekly dose of melody and musings!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes coming to you from our thriving little metropolis in the middle of Arkansas!  

Today we seek to absolve ourselves of any responsibility for anything.  That's right, we are not going to take credit for anything, nor do we seek to be held accountable for any actions.  Basically, today we do not want to risk the opportunity for blame...

"Blame" by Collective Soul from the March 11, 1997 album Disciplined Breakdown  

Hailing from Stockbridge, Georgia, Collective Soul stormed onto the "post-grunge" scene with their hit single "Shine" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Shine").  Coming from their indie label debut release Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, "Shine" would enable the band to be signed by a major record company and re-release the album to an even broader audience.  

Today's song comes from Collective Soul's third album Disciplined Breakdown.  The album peaked at #16 on the album chart but not before producing two #1 singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.  "Blame" had an assist in making this album a platinum seller as it peaked at #11 on the aforementioned Billboard chart.  

"You pushed me down For all the world to see I guess that's your price For my loyalty So while you're tasting sin And swallowing pain Don't look at me To take your blame" - opening lines to "Blame"

Personal responsibility seems to be a character trait of the past.  Mankind is very quick to accept the accolades and praises when the results are acceptable but equally quick to pass the buck when things go awry.  Accepting the consequences of your decisions becomes an encumbrance when trouble arises or when reality kicks in and shows the results of our choices.  If we happen to be a politician or a manager, it seems far easier to shift the responsibility down to an assistant or fall guy rather than accept that we made a mistake.  

The need for self-preservation is endemic to the human race.  It began at the earliest stages of mankind's existence when the results of giving in to temptation caused a life-changing decision to be made.  Genesis 3:8-19 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel 

Adam and Eve had 1 rule and they broke it.  When confronted by God about their malfeasance, Adam doesn't apologize to God.  Adam immediately begins to rationalize his actions by playing the blame game.  Adam even attempts to put the responsibility back on to God: "This woman you gave me..."  Not to be outdone, Eve joins in as the 2nd round to see who ultimately gets in trouble begins.  Eve does no better than Adam: "The serpent beguiled me..."  God, knowing who the serpent was, didn't even give him the chance to pipe in.  He immediately began laying the smackdown on the enemy.  In fact, the first prophecy of God's mercy, grace, and redemption comes at the expense of the enemy.  "He will wound your head..."  

Next, Eve gets the tongue-lashing she deserves as God pronounces that the reproductive process that He put in place would now be a painful experience for the woman. She had 1 rule.  Instead of an easy, natural thing, the joy of giving birth to a child now comes with a pain that was never intended.  

Finally, Adam who was ultimately responsible as the first created human receives his discipline.  His choice of food would now come at the expense of severe labor and toil.  No longer could he roam through the perfection of Eden and eat of the bounty that God had provided to spring up.  He had 1 rule. Adam would now have to work to eat.  He would have to save and plant seeds and grow his own food.  One would imagine that nothing Adam grew to eat was as tasty as the food of the garden, and a constant reminder of Adam's disobedience.

Fellow music enthusiast, I have a confession.  I am no better than Adam.  I too have been given 1 rule.  Don't disobey God.  Unfortunately, I fail at it every day.  I suspect that if you are honest, you do too.  So what do we do when we are caught in disobedience?  Do we attempt to blame God?  Do we attempt to blame others? Do we accept the ramifications of our decision-making and surrender in repentance to a Holy God who is waiting to forgive.  Yes, there will still be discipline that will be meted out as God molds us more into His likeness through His discipline.  In fact, that process might look something like this:  God's Chisel - Skit Guys - preview copy

It's time to stop placing the blame on others for your mistakes.  It's time to stop placing the blame on others for your poor decisions.  It's time to stop placing the blame on others for YOUR sin.  God has given you 1 rule.  "Obey me"  He waits patiently to adopt you into His family and begin the chiseling process in your life.  It IS time to make the best decision you will ever make and ask Jesus to be the boss of your life.  If you don't, you have no one else to blame.  

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Know What You Got ('Til It's Gone) (Cinderella)

 Welcome to Tuesday and another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  This is your one-stop blog for music's greatest hits peppered with a little bit of introspection to spice things up.  All this is served up with a side order of thought-provoking historical background and just a hint of musical twistiness to make you go hmmm.  So let's get started on our picnic of plainsong.  It's Tuesday and time for The Notes!!!

"Don't Know What You Got ('Til It's Gone) - from Long Cold Winter the May 21, 1988 album release by Cinderella  

Aww yes, those wonderful days when musical artists aspired to play guitar like, Joe Satriani, sing like Jon Bon Jovi (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Livin' on a Prayer"), and wanted to look like Steven Tyler (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Dream On").  It seemed to be that in the 80s any band that put "Metal" into the description of their musical style needed to have hair that was teased, coifed, and long.  While touring, such bands should have taken tanker trucks of hair spray along with them just to support the tour.  Such was certainly the case with the band Cinderella.  

Cinderella was an 80s hair band darling and an MTV staple.  The band started in 1982 and existed off and on until 2017 when founding member and lead singer Tom Keifer was quoted as saying that there would never be another reunion.  

Cinderella's biggest hit came in the form of today's feature song, which peaked at #12 on Billboard's Hot 100.   It regales the story of love lost and the regrets that exist from not making the most of a relationship or situation. 

One thing that we should certainly make the most of is the availability of the Bible. 

Part of our mission at Tuesday's Musical Notes is to encourage readers to study the Bible.  The Notes believes in the authority, accuracy, and credibility of the words that leap from its pages.  There are many things we confess we don't understand.  There are, however, many things in which Holy Spirit shows us as we are consistent in the study of the Word of God.  I have read the Bible from maps to concordance many times and with each reading Holy Spirit shows me something new that I had never considered.  That "something new" is usually exactly what I need for that time in my life.

Please take the time to read the Bible in its entirety.  For your convenience here is a Bing search of Bible reading plans that are available:  Bing.com - "Bible Reading Plans"  

As you study the Bible, you quickly see examples of folks who don't know what they got 'til its gone.  Such is the case of Adam and Eve.  Genesis 3:1-7 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

It is so easy on this side of history to judge Adam and Eve.  They had 1 rule.  Don't eat from 1 tree.  As we suggested last week, sin had already been introduced into the world as the enemy of man had been cast out of heaven.  His planting seeds of doubt in Eve's mind about God's authority was just enough of a nudge for her to cross the line into sin and disobedience.  He is not overt in his attack as he asks Eve if she were forbidden to eat the fruit from any of the trees.  Eve then reaffirms that EVERY other tree except the one in the center of the garden, they were allowed to eat the fruit.  Then the enemy sidesteps the truth and suggests that death will not come as a result, knowing full well that Eve doesn't understand the kind of death she will be introducing into the world by her sin.  

The Notes finds it interesting that Adam and Eve had no knowledge of evil prior to their disobedience.  They were living in a perfect environment and everything was good.  And then...the reality of what they were losing fell on them.  The perfection of the garden was gone in an instant because they didn't weigh the consequences of their decision and they allowed themselves to be deceived by the enemy, an enemy bent on their destruction.

 

Ok, so now it's introspection time...What good things in your life do you have that you are 1 bad decision away from losing?  I don't know that we ponder this enough.  Our continual striving to make things better for ourselves and our families contradicts with those moments we should be relishing our blessings and realize from where those good things come.  

Dear friend if you have never said "Yes!" to Holy Spirit's earnest pleas, consider doing that today.  The Bible teaches that He will not plead with you forever.  The Bible teaches that if you continue to say "no" to His leading, you will eventually be given your way.  Romans 1:28-32 NASB/The Message/KJV  At that point, the reality of what could have been will fall on you in a heavy way.  You will be forever separated from God and anything good.  Today, you can change your future.  Don't wait.  Don't delay. 'Cause, you don't know what you got, 'til its gone...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy