Tuesday's Musical Notes - "With Arms Wide Open" (Creed)

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!  We're sure glad you stopped by!  Each week we explore together a great song from the past and see just how it can relate to our lives.  Sometimes we think we're mighty clever, other times we are afraid we're a bit goofy, but all the time we hope we provide insight and introspection with a musical soundtrack of great melodies and gifted musicians.  A great example of both extremes happens to be around this time of year with Halloween, where Tuesday's Musical Notes has attempted to explore both the goofy and insightful. In fact, if you did a search on The Musical Notes archives on Halloween, here is what you get:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - Halloween search

Today is no exception to our typical fare here at The Notes!    Let's see if we're clever or goofy, shall we?  And we cannot resist the temptation to say that we welcome you...with arms wide open!!!

"With Arms Wide Open" by Creed - from the September 28, 1999 album Human Clay  

With Y2K looming on the horizon, the band Creed released their second album to a public wanting something different from the "sky is falling" mantra being promulgated from many in the media and entertainment world at the turn of the century.  Creed delivered with Human Clay.   It sparked 3 hit singles, "Higher" (#7), "What If" (#2), and today's featured song, "With Arms Wide Open" (#1).  

Creed, along with Pearl Jam, Matchbox 20, and a handful of others, brought balance at the end of the decade to the musical world of 90s boy bands and rappers.   With heavier sounds and relatable lyrics, Creed dominated music charts and became a Grammy contender, winning the Grammy in the Best Rock Song category for writers Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti (2001).  

"With Arms Wide Open" released on April 24, 2000. The song became an anthem for embracing the new millennia and a heavy metal sigh of relief from the angst felt with the approach of said new century.  "With Arms Wide Open" exists in three forms, the original album version, the radio edit (which adds percussive elements and is shorter), and a video edit that includes a full string arrangement in the mix.  All of these versions are found on the cd single.   "With Arms Wide Open" is the only #1 song by Creed to date.  

Creed is currently in hiatus.  Scott Stapp began lead vocals for Art of Anarchy after the death of Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver) in 2016.  Mark Tremonti is touring and recording with his solo band Tremonti.  He also continues to record and tour with Creed bandmates Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall in the band Alter Bridge.

Scott Stapp cowrote "With Arms Wide Open" after finding out he would be a father for the first time.  His ode to his son Jagger would be a retrospective on his hopes for the child's future and how they together could learn from the mistakes that Stapp had made in his own life. 

Volumes have been written about the relationship between a father and son.  There is much we can learn from reading such books.  There is however an ultimate resource for what the relationship between a father and son should be.  It is called the Bible.  In this book, we are exposed to every kind of father that has ever been imagined.  Perhaps the Bible has been more of a resource for authors than one would imagine.  

The Bible includes accounts of the dysfunctional (Lot, King David, etc.) as well as THE kind and loving father (God).  Today's narrative is a grand example of a good father.  While some would question how far he was willing to go, his example is to be emulated.  Let's take a look...

Genesis 22 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

In ancient times, to have no children was to be considered cursed.  Abraham and Sarah had been promised in their old age (Sarah was 90, Abraham 100) that they would indeed have children of their own (Abraham had Ishmael with Sarah's servant Hagar, Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Jealousy").  It isn't too far of a stretch that Abraham echoed the lyric of today's song:  "Well I just heard the news today  It seems my life is going to change  I close my eyes, begin to pray Then tears of joy stream down my face". The promise was fulfilled by Sarah giving birth to Isaac.  There were many tense and dramatic moments in the household because of Hagar and Ishamael, which ultimately led to Hagar and Ishmael leaving for good.  But those moments paled in comparison with what God asked Abraham to do when Isaac was about 6 years old.  

In one of the most incredible scenes of the Old Testament, God asks Abraham to be obedient and kill Isaac as a sacrifice.  Remember earlier that because Abraham had believed in the Lord it was credited to him as righteousness.  While Abraham was human and would certainly have been concerned about God's request, the Bible never indicates that he hesitated in his obedience.  His confidence was in God.  He knew that God's promises were true and that the nation that was to come would be from his son.  Just as Abraham pulled his knife to obey, he was stopped by the angel of the Lord.  The test was over and Abraham's trust in God had been confirmed and Abraham was now enabled to show his son everything that a father could.  

It seems there is another Bible story about a Father actually sacrificing His Son...but more on that later.

I don't know about you, but this story from the Bible always causes me to question my own faith in God.  Would I be that strong if God asked me to do something so seemingly monumental?  Would I hesitate and debate with God or be immediately obedient?  Dear friend, I hope that you are never placed in a similar situation where your faith is tested between what you can see with your own eyes and what you know God is telling you to do.  Have confidence because God has promised us time and again that He will never leave or forsake (abandon) us.  In fact, He waits to instill in you that kind of faith in Him through Holy Spirit.  You might even say that he is declaring anthemically...

  "With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything With arms wide open..." 

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Song Remains the Same" (Led Zeppelin)

Hi there!  Have you been searching for a blog that combines your passion for music with interesting insight?  Have your Tuesday's lacked pizazz?  Do you find yourself headbobbing to your favorite music wondering how high in the charts it went?  If the answer to any of these questions is "YES", have we got a deal for you!  Welcome to Tuesdays' Musical Notes where we attempt each week to provide thought-provoking conversation with a good beat!  This is the place where your favorite music is elaborated and expounded upon at just over 130 beats per minute.  But wait, there's more!  Tuesday's Musical Notes also provides an interesting side note each week that can potentially be life-altering!  All of this wrapped up in a blog just for you.  You may be asking yourself, "Self, where can I read such musical life-altering phenomena?"  Right here, right now and right away.  Let's get started in the place where we promise you that the song never remains the same...

 "The Song Remains the Same" by Led Zeppelin from the March 28, 1973 album Houses of the Holy

Written in one day (as was Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Stairway to Heaven") by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, "The Song Remains the Same" was intended to be a lead-in instrumental to "The Rain Song" on the Houses of the Holy album.  Robert Plant added lyrics and voila! another great song from the legendary band, Led Zeppelin  Both songs received mixed reviews from critics, some who were wanting more "classic" Zeppelin fare like Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Immigrant Song", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Thank You", and the aforementioned "Stairway to Heaven ". while others were enamored with the different feel of the entire Houses of the Holy album.  The songs were performed back to back in concert settings through 1980 when they were dropped from the set lists.  

The Houses of the Holy album performed well, eventually receiving Diamond status (over 10 million sold).  While the album only had 2 singles that reached the Billboard Hot 100, "D'yer Maker" (#20) and "Over the Hills and Far Away" (#50), it continues to be found on various Greatest Albums of All Time lists.   It was also the band's final studio album release with Atlantic Records prior to forming their own Swan Song label.  

The theme of "The Song Remains the Same" is that no matter what and no matter where, people and things tend to be very similar from place to place and time to time.  Take for example Genesis 19:30-38 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel and Genesis 20 NASB/The Message/KJV.  

Here, we continue the narrative of Abraham's nephew Lot after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot and his daughters hiding in a cave outside of the city of Zoar.  Having children to continue the family legacy was important to this culture.  This pressure to sustain the bloodline led Lot's daughters to take matters into their own hands.  I guess the grief at the loss of their mom and the shock of seeing her turned into a pillar of salt had subsided.  Regardless, Lot's daughters continue the fine tradition of leaning on their own devices instead of leaning on God's provision.  This seems strange given God is the one who had saved them miraculously from being turned into ash.  Yet, as we saw in the Garden of Eden, mankind has a tendency to go his own way and not depend on God.  

The result of the episode between Lot and his daughters results in the birth of two children who would be the leaders of the nations, Moab and Ammon.  Remember these guys.  These nations will be a part of the narrative and history that surrounds the nation that God promised Abraham his descendants would become.  They are a prime example of the consequences of men (or in this case, women) determining that they know better than God about a situation and forcing the issue.  The song remains the same...and history repeats itself.

We now return you to the story of Abraham and Sarah already in progress.  

Abraham's nomadic instincts kick in once again and he packs up everything and heads out to Gerar a town under the rule of Abimelech.  "She's my sister"..." cool! I'll take her to my harem"..."Don't touch that woman!!!"..."Yikes, you didn't tell me she's your wife!"... "She's my sister, same daddy, different mommy"..."Here, take her and all of this loot, before God kills me!"... "Ok"..."Oh, and by the way, hang out in any part of the kingdom you wish...name the place and it's yours!!!"... "Groovy!" 

That is probably not exactly how Abraham's encounter with Abimelech went down.  In fact, God had caused all of the women in Abimelech's kingdom to be unable to have children until the situation was rectified.  Doesn't this all seem a little Deja vuish?  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Would I Lie to You?"   History repeats itself because man trends toward not learning the lessons of the past and the song remains the same...

Abraham once again attempts to circumvent God's plan by passing off Sarah as his sister.  It doesn't work out any better this time as another king figures out very quickly that Abraham and Sarah were being protected by the God of everything.  Abraham, much like Lot's daughters, tries to take matters into his own hands instead of relying on God's providence for their safety and security.  The song remains the same...

So, you probably haven't tried to pass off your wife as your sister, nor have you attempted to sustain your family's legacy by...well, let's not go there. But perhaps there have been times in your life where you have attempted to deal with scenarios through your own volition.  How did that turn out for you?  If that scenario wasn't in line with God's ideal for your life, there believably was tension involved in the outcome. 

Maybe this isn't the first time you have felt that tension? that pressure?  Take a moment and read this passage:  Isaiah 55:6-9 NASB/The Message/KJV  This passage explains why we should really align ourselves with God.  His way is perfect, ours is not.  

But how do we get this alignment correct and ensure that our song doesn't remain the same?  We must first believe that our restoration to God was bought by the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, for the wrong we do. We ask for forgiveness from that wrongdoing and accept that we are forgiven by God.  We then begin living a life that is emblematic of Jesus, knowing that with His help we can face anything that may be a tension causer.  We attempt to make every day of our lives more like the life that Jesus lived, becoming more like Him in the process.  Will we make mistakes?  Will we repeat "songs" in our lives. Yes.  Will we be able to obtain perfection? No, but through studying God's Word, the Bible, we are promised by God that we will be transformed more and more into His likeness. And through His transformation, our song will never ever again remain the same.

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy 

 

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Look Back" (Boston)

Good Tuesday to ya friend!  Welcome back to your place for insight and instruments!  It's Tuesday's Musical Notes for October 15, 2019.  Glad you could make it!  

On this fall Tuesday, we look back to a song that suggests you should do just that.  Were we not to look back, how would we remember such incredible music?  If we didn't recall the past, how would we learn from our mistakes?  If we failed to to recognize the good from previous years, how would we know what is better now?  Would there even be a Tuesday's Musical Notes if we never were reminded of the incredible artistry contained in days gone by?  If our memorialization of elapsed time...you get the idea.  Let's move forward by looking back...at least with today's Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

"Don't Look Back" - the title track from the 1978 album by Boston  

2 years after its debut album, Boston (132 weeks on the album charts, peaking at #3), the band released Don't Look Back, the sophomore album that did not slump.  It seared record charts and sold over four million copies in its first month of release and solidified Boston as a band that set the standard for rock in the late '70s.  For more on the band, check out (here we go looking back again...) previous Tuesday's Musical Notes:  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "More Than a Feeling" and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Peace of Mind"

"Don't Look Back" would be the last track written and recorded.  It only became the title track after the band and Epic records discovered that ABBA had just released Arrival, the intended album title for Boston's second effort. Upon its release, it soared up the charts peaking at #4.  Some critics opined that "Don't Look Back" was the strongest track on the record and could easily stand up to any of the tracks from Boston's debut release.  

Looking back at television shows, you will on occasion here "Don't Look Back".  From WKRP in Cincinnati to the WB/CW's Supernatural to (as one would imagine) That '70s Show, "Don't Look Back" has made its place in musical icon land.  That status is also well supported by Classic Radio as the song continues to be in regular playlists.  

But what of the lyric?  Is it really true we should be constantly looking forward and rarely looking in the rearview mirror?

There are instances where reflection is a good thing.  We learn from our mistakes and we modify plans based on our knowledge of our past.  There however is one instance where looking back was a huge misstep.

Genesis 18-19 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel  

A couple of weeks ago we covered how the promises of God will always be fulfilled.  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Promises"  The first part of Genesis 18 affirms that promise that God had given to Abraham and begins laying the groundwork for the nation promised in chapter 15 with more specific details.  

As Abraham did, we should be reminded that the only way to know God's promises is to listen to His words.  Our way of being able to do that is through reading the Bible, God's Word to us, and for believers, listening and communing with Holy Spirit, God within us.  The first half of Genesis 18 should provide us with great hope and confidence that God does what He says He will do.  

In the back half of chapter 18, we find a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare (or Christopher Marlowe, but that's another musical note I suppose).  God determines to let Abraham know of the impending destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. While the Bible only hints to this,  and as God always does, He had given these folks opportunity after opportunity to change their ways but they continued down an evil path.  It had gotten so bad, that God had decided to destroy the cities forever.  If you can find it, the video series Drive Thru History has an excellent series on the Holy Land including a portion devoted to these destroyed cities and how they look today.  

When God told Abraham about His plans, Abraham begged God to relinquish His plans as Lot, Abraham's nephew, lived there and would be caught up in the destruction.  Bargaining between Abraham and God begins with the salvation of the cities being dependent on the number of righteous people God could find.  Beginning at 50 righteous folks, Abraham and God negotiate.  The arbitration continues as the numerical values decline.  When there are not even 10 good people found in the land Abraham acquiesces to God's plan and goes home, leaving Lot's fate up to God.

Chapter 19 begins with Lot recognizing the angels of God and taking them into his home.  The men of Sodom wanted to have relations with the angels and Lot refused to give them over.  Lot even offered his own daughters to the men and they dismissed his suggestion. The angels determined to save Lot and his family and made a way of escape by blinding the riotous mob and providing safety to Lot, his wife, and daughters. The only instruction for their salvation, Don't Look Back.  

You may know the remainder of the story, Lot's wife cannot overcome the temptation to watch the destruction of her previous home and in her disobedience, she pays the price. If you haven't read the focal passage today, scroll up and find the rest of the story.

Why did Lot's wife look back?  The Bible does not record the answer to that question, but perhaps she was sad at leaving what she knew, even if it meant her salvation was guaranteed.  Goodness, what a lesson for us today!  One that may even look like this:

Yes, there are mistakes from our past that we should remember and not replicate to ensure we grow and transform.  Yes, there are fond memories of loved ones now gone that we should hold up as examples to the next generation.  But when our desire to hold on to a past in which we are comfortable, we have a fondness towards, or we want to relive gets in the way of the redemption God has planned, dear friend, the Bible calls that disobedience and there are consequences.  

While we are unaware of God's discipline to others (I haven't heard of any recent salt statues around here have you?), we must be constantly attentive to God's leading.  For those who don't have a relationship with Him, this means that Holy Spirit is confirming the Words of the Bible to you and perhaps even taking you in the pathway of a Christian friend to show you what God's redemption and forgiveness can mean.  Your acceptance or repulsion of God's healing determines the ramifications for your life.   For believers, daily transformation awaits those who do what God has instructed.  Discipline is waiting for those who do not.  Job 3:17 NASB/The Message/KJV, Proverbs 3:12 NASB/The Message/KJV,  1 Corinthians 11:32 NASB/The Message/KJV  

While looking back can be a good exercise, it should never be a continual practice.  God has far too much planned for your life beginning with life in eternity future in His presence.  Or as Tom Scholz, Boston's lead singer put it:

Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day

I can see
It took so long to realize
I'm much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around

I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Far away and left behind

It's a new horizon and I'm awakin' now
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin'
The clouds are breakin'
Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play

I can tell
There's no more time left to criticize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everything in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong

I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
Far away and left behind

Could someone pass the salt?

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Jealousy" (Natalie Merchant)

Can you believe that we are on the cusp of 2020?  I can remember as a youngster counting up how old I would be when the turn of the century in 2000 would be and now we are staring at 20 years past that!  Ain't it funny how time slips away?  

Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes where pondering for wisdom with a soundtrack of the best music of all times is normal, in fact, it is highly encouraged and recommended!

The Notes are not trying to rush things.  We still have three more wonderful months left in 2019 and we really should make the most of those by living in the moment.  But 2020 marks a time gap in several ways.  As we stated before, we are now 20 years into the new century.  That makes anything happening in the 90s twenty plus years ago!  Including today's featured song from 1995, yup that's 25 years for those keeping track, here's Natalie Merchant with the 25-year-old song (well 25 years in 9 months, (Tigerlilly released in June of 1995)), "Jealousy"!

"Jealousy" by Natalie Merchant from the 1995 album Tigerlily  

Merchant's most successful solo album after leaving the band 10,000 Maniacs was her debut record Tigerlily.  It boasted 3 Top 40 singles ("Carnival" (#10), "Wonder" (#20), and today's song "Jealousy" (#23)).  Tigerlily  is a  rare album in that it was written, performed, and produced by its featured artist, Natalie Merchant.  Even though she was offered advance money by her record label, she declined in order to retain creative control as well as choose the musicians who would perform on the album.  This formula worked well for her as Tigerlily sold five million copies and went to #13 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart.  

"Jealousy" was the 3rd and final single released from Tigerlily.  As its title would suggest, it is a song written from the perspective of one who has been cast aside in a relationship that just ended.  With raw emotion and an evocative lyric, "Jealousy" sums up the perspective from a questioning vantage point while providing the necessary disdain.  

Jealousy is an emotion in which many songs have been written.  Poems, plays and other artistic endeavors have attempted to capture the feelings of sadness and resentment that seem to partner the enviousness of folks.  A picture is worth a thousand words:

This is a painting from 1874 by British artist Haynes King.  It seems to sing the lyric of today's song.  "And is she the sort that you've always said could satisfy your head?"  

Rarely is jealousy associated with a good outcome.  The Bible is replete with examples.  Can you think of any?

One case is found in Genesis 16 where we see a prime example of jealousy rearing its green, ugly head.  The difficulty with this example is that there was no need for it to happen.  Let's take a look:  Genesis 16 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel.  

Last week we touched on the promises of God ALWAYS coming true.  Abraham was promised a son.  This promise came from God.  Yet we see in chapter 16 that something happened.  Either Abraham did not give Sarah the heads up on God's promise, or Abraham and Sarah were impatient and attempted to take matters into their own hands.  

Sarah had a maid.  Her name was Hagar.  Hagar was considered property in the culture of the time, so what Sarah suggested wasn't as outlandish at the time as it may seem to us.  Please do not misunderstand.  What Sarah decided was TOTALLY against God's plan.  We had already seen God describe Abraham as righteous, so for him to go along with this plan is overt disobedience on Abraham's part.  

It is so easy to blame Sarah.  She essentially told Abraham to have "relations" with Hagar.  Abraham complied with her wishes and Hagar got pregnant.  No sooner had it become evident that Hagar was pregnant, Sarah became jealous and bitter towards Hagar.  The resentment that resulted certainly caused heartache for all three of the parties involved.  Hagar, hesitant to bear under the continued verbal abuse, ran away.  God saved her and Ishmael and told her to go back and take the abuse, for her son would be the father of his own great nation. Many believe Ishmael to be a patriarch of Islam.    

Each of them was equally to blame.  Sarah for the suggestion, Abraham for saying yes, and Hagar for going along with it even though it would seem that as a servant she had no choice in the matter.  The resulting dysfunction in the camp would cause years of tumult and anguish and ultimately cause separation between a father and son.  

Sarah's hesitancy to wait on God and the decision that resulted from that impatience ultimately placed her to be the one causing her own resentment and jealousy towards Hagar.  Abraham's own impatience to "help" God's promise along and acquiescence to Sarah's wishes ultimately placed him in a position to have tension in the latter years of his life, when there was no need for there to have been.   One can only imagine how Hagar felt as she had to sustain the constant abuse from her boss and raise a child under that condition. 

The takeaway?  We really should take time when making decisions.  It is incumbent on us to be patient.  We have to understand that God is in control and knows what is going on.  To do this is to believe in God's omniscience and omnipresence.  

I heard God's omnipresence once explained as One who was watching a parade from a building that overlooked the entire parade route.  Our place in the parade is somewhere in the midst of the procession and it is difficult for us to see very far past our position.  God, however, can see the entire parade.  He sees the beginning, where you are, and the end. (Thanks Sam for the illustration!!!)  As we are patient and trust the One who knows the outcome of our route, we can rest assured that He will never lead us astray.  Our role?  Stay on the course in which He has placed us and not let envy or jealousy of those in other positions inform our decision making.  

"Ooh, my jealousy..."

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

   

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Promises" (Eric Clapton)

Hooray!!!  It's October!!!  AND it's Tuesday!!!  Time for everyone's (well at least everyone that reads it) favorite blog, Tuesday's Musical Notes!  (If you have anything to make a fanfare, now would be the time to utilize it!)  Thanks for joining us today on another exciting adventure as we learn about a favorite song and how that song can be utilized to explain a life-changing concept!

We promise to always uphold the highest of standards as we navigate Notesland together.  We promise that each week you will be given a song that you like (we hope so anyway).  We promise you'll be given insight that will challenge and encourage you.  We promise to get started right now...

"Promises" by Eric Clapton from the November 1978 album Backless  

The first single from Backless, Eric Clapton's sixth studio album, hit the top ten of the charts in the fall of 1978.  "Promises" peaked at #9 on Billboard's Hot 100, came in at #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart and went as high as #82 on the Top Country Singles chart.  It has the distinction of appearing on over 15 albums and continues to receive airplay at radio all around the world.

Most folks who listen to popular music know the name of guitar aficionado Eric Clapton.  Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (solo artist, Yardbirds, Cream).  His 1992 Unplugged album has sold over ten million copies in the United States alone.  The 74-year-old has sold 100 million records worldwide and continues to write and record original material.  His last 2 studio albums, I Still Do, and Merry Xmas were chart successes in their respective genre.  He will go down as one of the most successful musicians of all times leaving a lasting legacy of lyrics and licks.  

"Promises" is somewhat of a conundrum.  While its title would cause one to believe the song would be about commitment, it is the total opposite with its refrains of "I don't care if you never come home, I don't mind if you just keep on rowin' away on a distant sea, 'cause I don't love you and you don't love me..."  There is however a reference to a promise.  "We made a vow, that we'd always be friends, how could we know that promises end..."  It is a song that speaks to the value in making vows and promises to those we love and trust then turns it around to the harsh feelings that occur when a promise is broken.  

So are promises supposed to have an expiration date?

Did you know that the Bible includes 3573 promises?  These commitments vary from being between God to man, man to man and man to God.  There is a variety of topics the promises contain.  From the very first promise that God makes to the enemy, "I will put enmity (alienation) between you and the woman..." to the very last, "Surely, I am coming quickly..." promises in the Bible are held in high regard and rarely have and termination date.

In Genesis 15, we see one of God's most powerful promises made to the man Abraham.  God guarantees Abraham that a son will be born to him and Sarah, even in their old age.  God goes on to promise that Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the stars.  Genesis 15 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel  In verse 6, we see that Abraham believed the promise that God made to him.  Because of his belief, the Bible said that Abraham was made "righteous" or "set right with God".  The modern vernacular for this would be to say that because of Abraham's belief in God's promise, he (Abraham) was saved.  Since Noah, there had been no other given such a label by God.  Hebrews 11 NASB/The Message/KJV

In the Church, we see the manifestation of God's promise to Abraham.  As the Bible relays the genealogy of Jesus, it points it all back through Abraham to Adam.  (The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew, chapter 1, verses 1-17 NASB/The Message/KJV)    As we believe that Jesus was all that He said He was and did all the Bible says He did and WILL do, we become righteous through Jesus' sacrifice and adopted not only into God's family, but Abraham becomes a partriarch of our family as well.  

In the Bible, we see time and again God's promises fulfilled and kept.  We can rely on what is said by God through His Word.  We can take great confidence and make important decisions in our life based on what His Word says and how Holy Spirit guides us.  

The enemy will attempt to confuse how those commitments are fulfilled, but despite his best efforts and his use of every tool in this world, he cannot break or dillute a promise that God has made.  

In other words, 

"We've got a problem, all can relate, we've got a world, callin' love, hate. God made a vow, that He'd always be there, and we should know His promise won't end.   La la la la la la la...."

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy