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...
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
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